E 


SELECTIONS  FROM  THE 
AND  DIARIES  OF  BREVET-BRIGADIER 
frERAL  WILLOUGHBY  BABCOCK  OF 
THE    SEVENTY-  FIFTH    NEW 
YORK  VOLUNTEERS 


A  STUDY  OF  CAMP  LIFE  IN  THE  UNION 
ARMIES  DURING  THE  CIVIL  WAR 


WILLOUGHBY  M,  BABCOCK  JR 


Issued  by  the  Division  of  Archives  and  History 

War  of  the  Rebellion  Series 

Bulletin  2 


THE   UNIVERSITY   OF   THE   STATE  OF  NEW  YORK 
1922 


Y30T-J622-I200 


GIFT  OF 


LIEUTENANT    BABCOCK    AND    NONCOMMISSIONED    OFFICERS 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  THE  STATE  OF   NEW  YORK,  DIVISION  OF  ARCHIVES  AND 

HISTORY 

October  13,  1922. 
Dr  Frank  P.  Graves 

President  of  the  University 

DEAR  SIR: 

I  herewith  transmit  and  recommend  for  publication  the 
Selections  from  the  Letters  and  Diaries  of  Brevet  Brigadier 
General  Willoughby  Babcock  of  the  75th  New  York  Volunteers 
(a  study  of  camp  life  in  the  Union  armies  during  the  Civil 
War),  by  Willoughby  M.  Babcock  jr.  This  constitutes  Bulletin  2 
of  our  War  of  Rebellion  Series,  the  first  bulletin  ha.ving  been  that 
of  Colonel  Burt's  Memoirs,  published  in  1903. 

This  Division  for  many  years  past  has  devoted  so  much  of  its 
attention  to  the  colonial  and  revolutionary  periods  of  our  history 
that  other  periods  have  been  neglected.  With  this  study  of 
Mr  Babcock's  it  is  hoped  to  resume  our  activities  in  other  periods 
of  New  York  State's  history.  Mr  Babcock  has  in  his  possession 
some  two  hundred  letters  of  his  grandfather  and  it  is  from  these 
that  he  has  made  this  interesting  study  on  camp  life,  about  which 
so  little  has  been  known. 

Very  truly  yours 

JAMES  SULLIVAN 

State  Historian  and  Director 
Approved  for  publication 

FRANK  PIERREPONT  GRAVES 

President  of  the  University  and 
Commissioner  of  Education 
[31 


€ 


PREFACE 

In  reading  over  the  collection  of  letters  written  during  the 
Civil  War  by  Brevet  Brigadier  General  Willoughby  Babcock  of 
the  Seventy-fifth  New  York  Volunteers,  my  grandfather,  I  was 
much  impressed  by  the  wealth  of  detail  about  army  life  which 
they  contain.  Their  author  was  constantly  undergoing  new 
experiences,  and  in  everyday  fashion  he  wrote  about  them  to  his 
wife.  For  her  benefit  he  told  what  the  soldiers  ate,  how  they 
trained,  what  their  amusements  were,  and  many  other  details, 
but  he  carefully  avoided  frightening  her  with  accounts  of  the 
fierce  fighting  through  which  the  Seventy-fifth  New  York  passed. 

Various  circumstances  have  made  it  inadvisable  to  edit  and 
publish  his  letters  and  diaries  in  full  at  the  present  time,  but 
an  attempt  has  been  made  in  this  work  to  make  available  the 
greater  part  of  the  material  contained  in  them  and  to  retain  as 
far  as  possible  the  words  and  attitude  of  mind  of  the  writer. 

WILLOUGHBY  M.  BABCOCK  JR 
October  1922 


520H74 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 

Preface 5 

1.  Introduction 11 

2.  Camps  and  fortifications 16 

3.  Commissary 38 

4.  Camp  life 44 

Routine 44 

Picket  and  guard  duty 47 

Scouting  service  and  reconnoissance 53 

Marches 56 

5.  Transportation 64 

6.  Organization 69 

Troops  (personnel) 69 

Equipment 81 

Expenses 82 

Pay 85 

Discipline 87 

7.  Recreation  and  mail 92 

8.  The  "  contraband  "  question 100 

9.  Feeling  concerning  the  war 105 

17] 


ILLUSTRATIONS 

PAGE 

Lieutenant  Babcock  and  noncommissioned  officers Frontispiece 

View  of  Fort  McHenry,  Baltimore. 20 

View  of  Bluffs  at  Port  Hudson,  fronting  on  the  river  taken 
from  the  citadel  of  rebel  fortifications 32 

View  of  the  rebel  gun  Alabama  and  battery  fronting  on  the 
river,  Port  Hudson,  La 32 

View  of  large  gun  (9-inch  bore)  on  river  front  near  to  the  S.S. 
Landing,  Port  Hudson,  La 32 

View  of  parapet  of  rebel  Priest  Cap,  showing  central  sap 
opposite  Cox's  battery,  Port  Hudson,  La 32 

View  of  Priest  Cap,  showing  lines  of  our  sap,  etc.,  approaching 
thereto,  Port  Hudson,  La 32 

View  of  rebel  Priest  Cap,  showing  stakes  planted  by  the  Con 
federates  to  obstruct  a  night  attack,  Port  Hudson,  La 32 

View  of  Priest  Cap  rebel  works,  Port  Hudson,  La 32 

View  of  19  gun  battery  (ours)  taken  from  the  citadel  (Reb), 
showing  the  ditch  and  holes  used  by  the  Confederates  at  the 
citadel,  Port  Hudson,  La 32 

View  of  rebel  battery,  opposite  to  Capt.  Bainbridge's  battery 
on  our  right  of  line,  Port  Hudson 32 

View  of  a  section  of  Priest  Cap  rebel  works,  showing  holes 
used  by  Confederates  as  huts  during  the  siege  of  Port 
Hudson 32 

View  of  rebel  gun  opposite  Holcrom's  /battery,  Port  Hudson, 
La 32 

General  Banks 74 

PLATES 

A  regimental  camp 28 

Formation  of  a  regiment  (ten  companies)  in  line  of  battle,  show 
ing  the  position  of  officers,  etc 33 

[9] 


SELECTION-S  FROM  THE  LETTERS  AND  DIARIES  OF 
BREVET-BRIGADIER  GENERAL  WILLOUGHBY 
BABCOCK 


CHAPTER  I 

INTRODUCTION 

In  this  discussion  of  various  phases  of  camp  life  in  the  Union 
armies,  during  the  Civil  War,  conditions  are  presented  from  the 
viewpoint  of  a  volunteer  officer,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Willoughby 
Babcock  of  the  Seventy-fifth  New  York  Volunteers,  as  shown  by 
letters  written  to  his  wife  from  the  field.  These  letters,  of  which 
there  are  about  two  hundred,  cover  the  period  from  January 
1860  to  October  6,  1864,  when  Colonel  B'abcock  died  from  the 
effects  of  a  wound  received  in  the  Battle  of  Winchester,  Virginia, 
September  19,  1864.  These  letters  naturally  fall  into  twelve 
groups  according  to  the  place  from  which  they  are  written. 

The  first  group,  consisting  of  thirty-six  letters  written  during 
the  period  from  January  1860  to  the  middle  of  April  1861, 
contains  no  material  bearing  011  the  topic.  The  second  group 
contains  fifteen  letters  written  from  Albany  and  New  York 
while  the  regiment,  the  Third  New  York,  was  being  organized 
and  drilled  preparatory  to  leaving  for  the  front.  The  series 
closes  May  30,  1861,  when  the  force  was  ordered  to  Fortress 
Monroe,  Virginia.  The  next  group  of  twenty  letters  covers  the 
period  June  6  to  July  24,  1861,  during  which  the  regiment  was 
at  Camp  Hamilton,  near  Hampton,  Virginia,  not  far  from  Old 
Point  Comfort,  and  was  initiated  into  the  hardships  of  army 
life  in  the  field.  Here  it  had  its  baptism  of  fire,  also,  during 
the  Battle  of  Great  Bethel,  in  which  the  Union  force  was 
defeated  with  some  loss.  July  24,  1861,  the  regiment  was 
ordered  to  move,  with  full  equipment  and  supply  of  ball  car 
tridge,  supposedly  toward  Richmond,  but  actually  to  Baltimore, 
where  it  became  a  support  to  the  garrison  of  Fort  McHenry, 
one  of  the  river  forts  guarding  the  city.  Seventeen  letters  were 
written  from  this  place,  dated  July  29  to  October  27,  while 
Lieutenant  Babcock  was  sick  and  discouraged  over  the  dis 
organization  of  the  regiment,  which  culminated  in  a  mutiny 
August  15,  1861,  when  its  three  months  of  service  was  completed. 

[HI 


12  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  BABCOCK 

On  November  2,  1861,  the  writer  of  these  letters  tendered  his 
resignation  as  first  lieutenant  of  Company  H,  Third  New  York 
Volunteers,  and  hurried  home  to  assume  the  captaincy  of  a  com 
pany  of  Cayuga  county  volunteers.  With  this  company  he  was 
mustered  into  the  Sixty-fourth  New  York  Volunteer  regiment, 
but,  upon  receiving  an  appointment  as  major  in  the  Seventy- 
fifth  New  York,  he  severed  his  connection  with  the  former  regi 
ment  and  reported  for  duty  in  the  Seventy-fifth  on  December  2, 
1861.  The  fifth  group  contains  twenty-four  letters,  covering 
the  period  December  1,  1861,  to  May  9,  1862.  Three  of  these 
were  written  from  New  York,  while  the  rest  were  from  Santa 
Rcsa  Island,  Florida,  where  the  regiment  was  encamped  near 
Fort  Pickens,  which  controlled  the  entrance  to  Pensacola  harbor. 
Here  the  life  was  monotonous,  broken  occasionally  by  night 
alarms  from  the  pickets,  invariably  false,  and  by  the  continual 
contest  with  millions  of  sand  fleas  and  gnats. 

During  the  night  of  May  9,  1862,  Pensacola  was  evacuated 
by  the  Confederates,  who  set  fire  to  the  fortifications  and  city 
upon  leaving.  Two  days  later  Union  forces  from  Santa  Rosa, 
the  Seventy-fifth,  the  Sixth  New  York,  nicknamed  "  Wilson's 
Zouaves/'  and  a  force  of  regulars,  entered  the  city,  and  Major 
Babcock  was  appointed  provost  marshal  and  military  governor 
of  the  town.  During  his  period  of  service  in  this  position,  from 
May  15,  until  September  1,  1862,  the  seventeen  letters  forming 
the  sixth  group  were  written,  and  they  show  the  character  of  the 
people  he  came  in  contact  with,  many  of  whom  were  runaway 
slaves.  Thus  the  "  Contraband "  question  was  an  important 
matter  to  be  dealt  with. 

The  next  group,  of  which  there  are  but  four  letters,  dated  from 
September  1  to  October  12,  1862,1  was  written  from  New 
Orleans,  La.,  where  the  Seventy-fifth  was  stationed  until  the 
middle  of  October  on  garrison  duty.  News  of  McClellan's  fail 
ure  and  defeat  before  Richmond  began  to  reach  them  in  the  form 
of  constant  rumors  of  success  and  disaster,  the  latter  being 
finally  confirmed  from  northern  sources.  These  letters  reflect 
very  strongly  the  feeling  of  depression  which  followed  that  with 
drawal.  On  January  9,  1863,  orders  were  issued  for  the  begin 
ning  of  a  campaign  into  the  Teche  country,  to  operate  from 

1  From  October  15,  1862  to  January  9,  1863  there  are  no  letters,  as 
Mrs  Babeook  arrived  in  New  Orleans  on  November  3d,  and  stayed  in  Camp 
Kearney,  some  distance  up  the  river  from  the  city,  with  her  husband  until 
January  1863. 


INTRODUCTION  13 

Brashear  City  as  a  base  of  supplies,  and  the  Seventy-fifth  took 
the  field  as  a  part  of  the  force  sent  out.  The  nineteen  letters 
which  compose  this  group  were  written  from  the  field  in  the 
course  of  this  expedition,  which  reached  Alexandria,  La.,  and 
then  withdrew  after  a  period  of  long  exhausting  marches,  with 
little  gain,  except  some  cotton  which  had  been  seized.  This 
period  closed  on  May  24,  1863,  when  the  regiment  was  sent  as 
part  of  the  army  to  attack  Port  Hudson,  a  powerful  fortress  on 
the  Mississippi  river. 

Eight  letters  describing  the  siege  operations  against  this  posi 
tion,  which  closed  the  Mississippi  to  gunboats  dispatched  from 
New  Orleans  to  aid  in  the  attack  on  Vicksburg,  were  sent  to 
Mrs  Babcock  at  Brashear  'City,  La.,  with  dates  from  May  30 
to  July  9,  1863,  when  the  Confederates  surrendered  to  the 
besieging  Union  forces.  Colonel  Babcock  took  an  active  part  in 
two  assaults.  While  acting  as  brigade  commander  in  charge  of 
the  skirmishers  leading  the  attacking  force  in  the  second  general 
assault  of  June  14th,  he  received  a  severe  wound  in  the  leg  which 
incapacitated  him  from  duty  for  some  time.  Returning  from 
sick  leave  July  1st,  he  assumed  command  of  the  Seventy-fifth 
New  York,  and  led  his  regiment  in  the  place  of  honor  imme 
diately  following  the  Volunteer  Thousand  Storming  Party,  into 
Port  Hudson,  when  the  formal  surrender  of  the  fortress  took 
place  on  the  morning  of  July  9,  1863.  At  the  end  of  this  period 
of  activity,  the  Seventy-fifth  went  into  camp  for  rest  for  a  time 
near  Donaldsonville,  La.,  and  later  near  Thibodeaux,  and  from 
these  camps  the  seven  letters  forming  the  next  group  were  writ 
ten  with  dates  from  July  12th  to  August  1st.  The  regiment  was 
worn  out  from  the  arduous  service  of  the  proceeding  5  months, 
and  was  to  some  extent  disorganized,  in  consequence  of  its  heavy 
loss  in  officers  and  men. 

On  August  22d  Colonel  Babcock  was  relieved  of  his  command 2 

2  Colonel  Babcock  was  relieved  of  his  command  and  court-martialed 
because  he  had  criticized  some  actions  of  General  Banks  in  a  private  letter 
sent  to  his  home  in  Owego,  N.  Y.  Through  some  oversight  this  letter  was 
published  in  the  local  paper  and  came  to  the  notice  of  General  Banks. 
Convicted  by  the  court-martial,  Colonel  Babcock  was  dismissed  from  the 
service  of  the  United  States,  and  was  not  again  a  member  of  the  army 
until  January  28,  1864,  when  he  was  reinstated  upon  the  strong  recom 
mendations  of  several  of  his  superior  officers.  The  letter  never  was  intended 
for  publication  but  was  printed  through  the  indiscretion  of  a  friend. 
Colonel  Babcock  was  not  allowed  t<?  get  witnesses  to  prove  the  truth  of 
statements  he  had  made,  nor  was  he  given  sufficient  opportunity  to  obtain 
papers  and  evidence  necessary  for  his  defense.  The  answer  to  the  charge 
and  other  papers  in  connection  with  the  case  are  extant,  and  together  with 
the  diaries  throw  light  on  the  affair. 


14  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  BABCOCK 

and  returned  to  New  Orleans,  where  he  remained  until  July  22, 
1864.  On  February  10,  1864,  he  became  chief  of  staff  of  the 
cavalry  division  of  West  Mississippi,  Department  of  the  Gulf, 
and  later  inspector  general  011  the  same  staff.  The  ten  letters 
in  the  next  group,  covering  only  a  short  time  at  the  end  of  this 
period  after  the  departure  of  his  wife  for  the  North,  June  26  to 
July  30,  1864,  show  something  of  conditions  in  Xew  Orleans, 
of  the  meeting  of  the  constitutional  convention  for  reconstruc 
tion,  and  of  his  experiences  while  on  cavalry  inspection  tours 
through  the  department.  Colonel  Babcock's  diaries  kept  regu 
larly  throughout  the  war  until  his  death,  throw  further  light  on 
life  in  New  Orleans  during  the  period  not  covered  by  the  letters. 
Himself  strongly  hostile  to  General  Banks,  he  shows  the  growing 
feeling  among  the  other  officers  in  the  department  against  the 
commanding  general,  and  the  lessening  of  his  control  over  mili 
tary  affairs  in  the  district. 

The  last  group  of  twenty-four  letters  covers  the  period  from 
August  2d  to  the  death  of  the  writer  on  October  6,  1864.  Many 
of  these  are  short  and  hastily  written,  as  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  under  General  Sheridan,  to  which  the  Seventy-fifth  had 
been  assigned,  commenced  a  vigorous  campaign  against  the  Con 
federates  under  General  Early,  operating  in  the  Shenandoah 
valley,  shortly  after  Colonel  Babcock  reported  for  duty  with  his 
regiment  at  Tennallytown,  D.  C.  These  letters,  written  in  a 
cramped,  nervous  hand,  describe  very  fully  certain  forms  of 
camp  life  which  had  been  imperfectly  shown  in  previous  ones, 
and  furnish  valuable  material  for  this  study.  From  September 
14th  to  17th,  Colonel  Babcock  endeavored  to  obtain  an  order 
sending  him  home  on  recruiting  service  to  fill  up  his  regiment 
and  had  received  the  consent  of  all  his  superior  officers  except 
General  Sheridan,  who  postponed  it  for  a  few  days  until  a  deci 
sive  struggle  with  Early  should  have  occurred.  This  battle  took 
place  on  September  19,  1864,  the  Battle  of  Winchester  or 
Opequan  Creek,  where  Sheridan  defeated  the  Confederates  in  a 
desperate  engagement  with  very  heavy  losses.  In  the  ccurse 
of  a  charge  across  an  open  field  in  the  face  of  a  murderous  fire, 
Colonel  Babcock  received  a  severe  wound  in  the  thigh,  from  the 
effects  of  which  he  died  in  the  Winchester  hospital  on  October 
6,  1864.3 

3  Besides  the  letters  written  by  Colonel  Rabcock,  there  are  several  in 
the  collection  written  by  other  people  to  him  during  this  period,  which 
contain  information  on  the  subject  of  the  study  and  have  been  used  to 
supplement  the  others. 


INTRODUCTION  15 

Colonel  Babccck  seems  to  have  been  a  very  able  and  efilcient 
officer,  judging  from  letters  and  statements  made  by  his  superior 
officers  at  the  time  of  his  dismissal  and  after  his  death,  and 
from  the  number  of  special  assignments  he  received  detaching 
him  from  his  regiment  and  the  compliments  given  for  the  per 
formance  of  them.  According  to  statements  the  family  received 
after  his  death  the  men  esteemed  him  highly,  although  he  had 
the  reputation  of  being  a  strict  disciplinarian.  They  felt  that 
he  was  willing  to  lead  where  he  ordered  them  to  go.  He  rose 
in  rank  steadily  from  the  position  of  first  lieutenant  in  the  Third 
Xew  York,  in  which  regiment  he  enlisted  April  18,  1861,  to 
a  captaincy  in  the  Sixty-fourth  Xew  York,  was  elected  major 
of  the  Seventy-fifth,  and  finally  became  lieutenant  colonel  in 
the  same  regiment,  a  position  he  held  until  his  death.  He  was 
in  command  of  his  regiment  much  of  the  time,  because  of  the 
ill  health  of  Colonel  Merritt,  and  in  charge  of  the  brigade  at 
different  times  'both  during  the  siege  of  Port  Hudson  and  subse 
quently.  He  acted  as  a  member  of  several  courts-martial  as 
judge  advocate,  served  as  military  governor  of  Pensacola  for  4 
months  in  1862,  and  held  the  positions  of  chief  of  staff  under 
General  Lee,  and  inspector  general  of  cavalry  in  the  Depart 
ment  of  the  Gulf  under  General  Davidson  for  6  months  in  1864. 
Congress,  after  his  death,  brevetted  him  colonel  and  brigadier 
general  for  gallantry  on  the  field  of  Winchester. 


CHAPTER  II 

CAMPS  AND  FORTIFICATIONS 

CAMPS 

When  news  of  the  firing  on  Fort  Sumter  reached  the  people 
of  the  North  through  the  newspapers  on  the  evening  of  Saturday, 
April  13,  18'61,  enthusiasm  for  the  war  showed  itself  immedi 
ately.  The  Legislature  of  the  State  of  New  York  acted 
promptly  by  voting  "  a  war  bill  for  $'2,000,000  and  a  tax  to 
raise  it,"1  and  public  meetings  for  raising  the  thirteen  regiments 
required  were  held  everywhere,  in  which  "  the  fever  for  volun 
teering  ran  high."'  As  troops  began  to  pour  into  Albany  and 
other  concentration  points  for  muster  into  the  service  of  the 
United  States,  the  lack  of  preparation  of  the  state  for  handling 
large  bodies  of  men  became  evident.  Facilities  were  lacking 
for  feeding  the  men  promptly  at  meal  times,  clothing  of  poor 
quality  was  hastily  furnished  by  contractors,3  and  housing 
arrangements  were  poor. 

When  Company  H,  Third  New  York  Volunteer  regiment, 
arrived  in  Albany  on  April  28th,  it  was  assigned  to  temporary 
quarters  in  the  Adams  House.4  The  officers  were  quartered  in 
the  Delevan  House.  Four  days  later  the  company,  as  a  part  of 
a  larger  force  of  one  thousand  troops,  was  transferred  to  the 
Albany  Barracks,  "  a  large  brick  building."  5  "  Our  quarters 
is  a  bare  unfurnished  room  in  the  fourth  story  of  the  main  build 
ing,  stretching  from  front  to  rear,  with  six  large  windows,  two 
on  each  of  three  sides,  along  the  sides  of  which,  on  the  floor,  our 
straw  beds  are  ranged.  We  have  straw  beds  and  blankets  —  no 
other  sleeping  accommodations.  Four  captains  and  eight  lieuts. 
now  occupy  it.  We  have  one  large  table  to  write  on,  a  few 
rickety  chairs,  one  wash  bowl  and  pitcher,  a  couple  of  pails,  and 
a  spittoon.  Scattered  around  are  satchels,  valises,  shoe  brushes, 
swords,  boxes  of  epaulets,  cigars  etc." 6  The  men  slept  "  in 


1  Afss  Diary  of  W.  Babcock,  April  16,  1861. 
*Ibid.,   April    18th. 

3  Henry  Hall,  "A  Record  of  the  10th  N.  Y.  Volunteers,  and  3d  New  York 
Artillery."     In  Cayuga  in  the  Field,  p.  31    (Auburn,  N".  Y.,  1873). 

4  Diary,  April  2S,   1861. 

5W.  Babcock  to  Mrs  Babcock,  Albany,  N.  Y.,  April  28,  1861.  References 
to  Colonel  Bibcock's  letters  to  his  wife  will  hereafter  be  by  place  and  date 
only. 

6/6tU,  May  3,   1861. 

[16] 


CAMPS  AND   FORTIFICATIONS  17 

bunks  ranged  one  over  another  three  deep,  but  so  apart  as  to 
allow  a  free  and  perfect  circulation  of  air  all  through  the  lofty 
rooms  from  windows  on  each  side." 

Upon  the  arrival  of  the  Seventy-fifth  New  York  in  New 
Orleans  early  in  September  of  1S62,8  it  was  assigned  to  quar 
ters  in  the  United  States  Barracks  there,  and  the  men  proceeded 
to  make  themselves  comfortable  during  their  stay.  "  You  would 
be  amused  to  see  how  quick  our  men  supply  themselves  with 
comforts  and  accommodations  here,  and  everywhere  they  go. 
Tables,  stools,  bedsteads,  mosquito  bars,  and  all  sorts  of  furni 
ture  which  can  be  used,  seem  to  come  out  of  rough  lumber  by 
magic.  I  trust  I  have  learned  to  look  out  for  myself  very  well. 
I  have,  today,  besides  my  military  duties,  got  me  a  new  table, 
stool,  bedstead,  and  a  frame  for  my  mosketo  bars.  I  have  got  a 
table  for  Carpenter  9  nearly  made.  I  got  up  a  stove  and  was  able 
to  invite  several  officers  to  dinner  —  an  excellent  dinner  at  home 
in  my  own  quarters.'7 

Life  in  the  barracks,  however,  formed  a  very  small  part  of 
army  service  during  the  war.  There  was  only  a  short  time  in 
any  case  when  a  regiment  could  remain  idle  in  barracks,  for  the 
total  available  force  was  needed  at  all  times  to  aid  in  carrying- 
on  the  war.  As  a  result,  tents  were  the  usual  means  of  sheltering 
an  army  on  a  campaign.  These  were  of  two  kinds,  the  wall 
tents  and  the  shelter  tents.  Under  ordinary  circumstances  the 
regulation  is'A"  tents  were  carried  with  the  army  on  wagons 
following  the  advance  closely. 

The  Third  regiment  first  encamped  under  canvas  at  the  Bat 
tery  in  Xew  York  City  while  waiting  orders  to  leave  for  the 
front.  "  For  the  first  time,  I  have  builded  me  a  house  this  after 
noon.  It  is  a  little  tent,  rectangular  on  the  floor,  about  8  by  12 
feet,  and  shaped  like  a  low  Swiss  cottage  with  a  very  sharp 
gable  and  steep  roof.  Our  boys  are  quartered  in  20  tents  which 
are  ranged  on  each  side  of  a  street  about  30  feet  wide  and  10 


7  Ibid.,  April   28,    1861. 

8  At  this  period  Lieutenant  Babcock  had  become  lieutenant  colonel  of  the 
Seventy-fifth  Xew  York.     He  served  with  the  Third  Xew  York  until  Novem 
ber    1,    1861,   when   he   left   it   to  become   captain    in   the    Sixty-fourth   regi 
ment,   and  later  major  of   the   Seventy-fifth  Xew  York  Volunteers.     Colonel 
Dodge    resigned    June    21,    1862,    and    Lieutenant    Colonel    Merritt    became 
colonel,  and  Major  Babcock,  lieutenant  colonel  by  promotion. 

9  Lieutenant    Lewis    E.    Carpenter,     quartermaster     of    the    Seventy-fifth 
New  York. 

10  Steamer    Ocean     Grove,    and    New    Orleans,    La.,     September    5,     1862. 
(Letter  begun  September  2d.) 


18  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  BABCOCK 

rods  long,  which  comes  up  to  and  stops  at  my  tent.  Four  boys 
are  quartered  in  each  tent,  the  Capt.  has  a  tent,  and  the  two 
Lieuts.  have  one  together/'  Furnishings  were  few  and  rude,  a 
"  rough  board  table  "  and  a  "  straw  mattress  on  which  I  must 
soon  camp  down  and  rest  for  the  morrow/' 

After  a  few  days  here,  the  regiment  advanced  to  a  point  about 
a  mile  from  Hampton,  Va.,  near  Old  Point  Comfort,  and  pitched 
camp.  Arriving  late  in  the  afternoon  and  not  receiving  the  tents 
until  dark,  the  soldiers  merely  set  up  a  few  tents  for  shelter 
from  the  rain  until  morning,  when  permanent  arrangements 
were  made  according  to  army  regulations  for  a  camp.  "  It  was 
10  o'clock  when  I  got  in  out  of  the  rain,  wet  with  rain  and 
perspiration,  and  lay  down  on  a  blanket  on  the  wet  soil  of  a 
cornfield,  and,  blocked  up  on  one  side  by  my  valise,  and  on  the 
other  by  some  tent  poles,  I  managed  to  get'  some  rest.  I  was 
up  by  5  o'clock  this  morning,  and  have  been  hard  at  work  ever 
since.  Our  tents  had  all  to  be  struck  and  rebuilt  in  order."  13 

The  site  was  a  pleasant  one  near  Hampton  Roads,  about  2% 
miles  from  Fort  Monroe,  Va.,  but  "  in  the  enemy's  country " 
with  rebel  batteries  and  fortifications  in  plain  view,  and  constant 
vigilance  was  required  to  prevent  attack  and  loss  of  men  and 
stores  by  capture  in  sudden  raids.14  "  The  houses  all  about  here 
are  deserted,  and  the  little  village  of  Hampton  right  in  sight  of 
us,  has  not  a  dozen  white  people  in  it.  Houses,  lands,  provi 
sions,  furniture  etc.,  were  all  left  at  the  approach  of  the  Zouaves 
a  few  days  ago.  This  morning,  a  half  dozen  of  our  officers  went 
out  on  a  sort  of  marauding  expedition  across  an  arm  of  the  bay 
to  Hampton,  and  ransacked  a  number  of  houses.  Pianos,  beds, 
stoves,  tables,  and  in  some  cases  tables  spread  for  meals  were 
found  a  few  days  ago  as  the  occupants  habitually  left  them,  but 
now  mostly  displaced."  15 


"New  York  City,  May  21,   1861. 


13  Near  Hampton,  Va.,  June  6,   1861. 

"  We  are  here  in  a  most  beautiful  region  on  the  Hampton  Roads  where 
earth  and  sea  vie  with  each  other  in  loveliness.  Our  camp  is  in  the  enemy's 
country,  and  across  the  bay  in  plain  sight  of  us  is  SewalPs  Point,  and  a 
little  farther  up  is  the  mouth  of  Acquia  creek,  both  now  famous  as  the 
seat  of  batteries  of  the  Secessionists.  Yesterday  and  today,  there  has  been 
cannonading  jn  full  view  of  us,  between  the  little  steamer  Harriet  Lane 
and  the  batteries.  Last  night,  the  enemy  were  up  in  some  force  within  a 
mile  of  us,  and  four  men  stole  as  many  barrels  of  our  crackers.  Their 
scouting  parties  come*  down  quite  to  where  our  outposts  are."  Near  Hamp 
ton,  Va.,  June  6,  1861. 

15  Near  Hampton,  Va.,   June   6,   1861. 


CAMPS   AND   FORTIFICATIONS  19 

After  a  few  days  spent  in  the  organization  of  the  camp,  drills 
began  and  everything  was  arranged  for  a  long  stay.  Furniture 
appeared  as  if  by  rnagic  for  the  tents,  and  the  men  were  not 
averse  to  fresh  meat  and  food  which  was  stolen  from  a  hostile 
country  in  spite  of  regulations  against  such  actions.16  As  the 
heat  of  summer  in  the  southern  states  began  to  make  itself  felt, 
arrangements  were  made  for  the  comfort  of  the  men  thus  forced 
to  live  in  hot  canvas  tents  pitched  on  the  sea  sand,  by  setting 
drills  early  in  the  morning  or  late  in  the  afternoon,17  by  sheltering 
the  guards  as  much  as  possible,  and  by  looping  up  the  tents  on 
all  sides  so  a,s  to  give  a  free  circulation  of  air  throughout.18 
Bushes  were  cut  and  stuck  up  over  the  tents  of  the  men  and 
awnings  were  utilized  to  shelter  the  officers7  quarters.  Havelocks 
also  were  furnished  to  the  men  to  guard  against  sunstroke.19  Not 
much  was  done  during  this  summer  heat,  for  exhaustion  and 
sickness  followed  any  unusual  exertion  during  the  neon  hours. 
A  single  expedition  and  battle,  that  of  Great  Bethel,  in  which 
the  Union  forces  were  defeated,  showed  the  futility  of  attempt 
ing  any  vigorous  advance  during  the  hot  weather,  for  the  men, 
exhausted  by  a  night  march,  a  battle  during  the  heat  of  the  day 
and  a  12-mile  march  home  again,  were  used  up  completely  for 
several  days  following,  and  the  sick  list  showed  a  perceptible 
increase  for  some  time.20 

On  July  26th,  the  Third  "New  York  was  ordered  to  Washing 
ton  to  reinforce  the  garrison  there,  but  the  destination  was 
changed  to  Fort  McHenry,  Baltimore,  and  camp  was  pitched 
near  the  walls.  "  Our  camp  here  is  quite  unsupplied  with  con 
veniences.  Wkter  must  be  got  within  the  F'ort.  We  have  no 
floors  for  our  tents  but  the  grass  which  is  nature's  carpeting. 


16  Ibid.,  Friday,  June  7,   1861.      (Letter  begun  June  6th.) 

17  Camp  Hamilton.  Va.,  June  14,   1861. 

18  Ibid.,  June  21,  166-1.     (Letter  begun  June  20th.) 

19  Havelocks,    so    called    after    Sir    Henry    Havelock,    an    English    general, 
were  a  kind  of  cloth  cover   slipped  on  over,   or   instead  of,  a  cap,   hanging 
down  over  the  neck  and  shoulders  for  protection  against  the  sun. 

20  "  Several  of  our  boys  are  quite  exhausted  and  sick  from  sheer  fatigue. 
You  can  have  no  conception  of  the  terrible  fatigue  of  one  battle  day.     We 
marched    several    miles    from    Hampton    on    the   double    quick    step  —  a    sort 
of   run  —  and    it   nearly   killed   the    men   off."      Camp   Hamilton,    Va.,    June 
14,  1861. 

The  battle  of  Great  Bethel  took  place  on  June  llth,  a  Union  force 
being  sent  by  night  to  surprise  the  Confederate  works  near  New 
Bethel.  Through  delays,  the  attack  was  not  made  until  9  o'clock  in  the 
morning.  "  We  drew  off  in  good  order  about  12^  o'clock.  It  was  a  weary 
march  home  12  miles  in  a  hot  sun.  Exhausted  as  we  were,  we  accom 
plished  it  by  sunset.  Many  were  quite  worn  out."  Diary,  June  llth. 


20  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  BABCOCK 

Nary  chair  is  to  be  had,  nor  a  bedstead.  So  we  sit  on  trunks, 
on  the  ground  and  lie  on  our  beds.  I  have  not  even  a  nail  to 
hang  a  vest  on.  But  it  is  a  beautiful  pla,ce  after  all.  The 
waters  of  the  bay  and  river  surrounded  by  such  rich  verdure, 
and  then  the  ever  moving  fleet  of  white  sails  near  us  make  it 
very  pleasant.  We  have  a  delightful  bathing  place  too.  So  that 
on  the  whole  we  are  as  well  encamped  as  we  have  been  anywhere. 
There  is  no  such  cool  breeze  as  we  had  at  Oamp  Hamilton,  but 
the  city  is  near  us  with  all  its  conveniences."  In  this  camp  as 
in  the  other,  however,  furniture  made  its  appearance  in  the  form 
of  camp  stools  and  tables,  although  floors  were  still  lacking  22  and 
the  men  settled  down  for  another  period  of  inactivity. 

Nevertheless,  health  conditions  were  not  altogether  satisfac 
tory,  for  the  site  chosen  for  the  camp  was  unhealthful,  and  fever 
made  its  appearance.  Lieutenant  Babcock  himself  became  sick 
with  typhoid  fever,  and  was  invalided  home  on  furlough  for  6 
weeks.23  On  his  return  to  duty  early  in  October,  he  wrote :  "  I 
find  it  very  sickly  where  we  are.  Several  deaths  have  occurred, 
and  more  are  likely  to  occur  of  fever."  The  cold,  rainy  fall 
came  on  and  caused  general  discomfort  among  the  men,  sorely 
in  need  of  new  tents  and  warm  blankets  to  replace  those  which 
had  been  in  use  all  summer. 

The  Seventy-fifth  New  York,  in  which  regiment  Lieutenant 
Babcock  had  been  elected  major,  was  ordered  to  Santa  Kosa 
Island,  Florida,  and  left  New  York  City  December  6,  1861. 
"  We  are  to  be  encamped  at  Pickens  25  near  the  walls,  right  on  the 
bare  white  sand,  in  full  view  and  easy  range  of  two  rebel  Forts 
and  the  Navy  Yard  battery.  Any  bombardment  of  Pickens 
would  drive  us  out  —  helpless  as  we  are  —  instant er.  Good 
water  is  easy  gotten  on  the  Island  and  the  location  is  quite  as 
healthy  summer  and  winter,  as  there  is  on  the  globe.  The  sun 
shines  very  hot  here  now,  at  mid-day,  but  there  is  a  breeze  all 

21  Fort  MeHenry,  Baltimore,  August  2,  1861. 

227Md.,  Friday,  August  9,  1861.     (Letter  begun  August  7th.) 

23  August   17  to  October  8,   1861.     Diary,  1861. 

24  Fort  McHenry,   Baltimore,   October  8*,   1861. 

25  Fort  Pickens  was  a  large  fortification  of  solid  masonry  on  Santa  Rosa 
island,   commanding  the   channel  which  gave  entrance   to  Pensacola  harbor. 
When   the    Confederates    seized    the    fortifications   guarding   the    harbor    and 
town  on  the  mainland,   they   also   attempted   to   get   Fort  Pickens,   but  the 
place  was  too  well   garrisoned   and   fortified.     As  long  as  the   Union  forces 
held  this  island  and  fort,  the  harbor  and  port  of  Pensacola  were  practically 
useless  to  the  Confederates  as  a   shipping  point.     A  blockading   fleet,   also, 
was  on  guard  duty  just  beyond  the  reefs  and  bar  which  lined  the  entrance. 
See  following  section  dealing  with  fortifications. 


CAMPS   AND   FORTIFICATIONS  21 

the  time."  26  Camp  was  established  between  two  parallel  sand 
ridges,  all  on  one  street  with  headquarters  for  the  field  and  staff 
officers  in  a  large  shed  covered  with  canvas  inside  of  which  the 
tents  were  pitched.27  The  ingenuity  of  the  men  was  again  exer 
cised  to  good  advantage,  and  tables,  washstands,  shelves  and 
chairs  made  their  appearance.28  "  We  have  room  plenty,  shade, 
good  water  and  sufficient  attendance."  29 

Secure  and  easy-going  as  it  appeared,  the  element  of  danger 
was  not  lacking  from  the  life  on  Santa  Rosa  island.  The  camp 
of  the  regiment  was  within  "  easy  range  of  two  rebel  forts  and 
the  RTavy  Yard  battery.  Any  bombardment  of  Pickens  would 
drive  us  out  —  helpless  as  we  are,  instanter."  "  In  the  tent 
where  I  dined  yesterday  was  a  ragged  hole  in  the  roof  and  a 
corresponding  one  in  the  floor  where  a  fragment  of  a  shell  from 
secessia  came  down  through,  the  other  day.  The  piece  lay  there 
still.  A  spent  ball  from  Fort  McRea  came  over  Fort  Pickens, 
dashed  through  the  same  tents,  knocked  over  camp  stools,  table 
and  crockery  all  into  indiscriminate  ruin,  going  out  through 
the  rear  of  the  tent.  Fragments  of  rebel  shells  are  abundant  and 
two  large  shells  lie  in  our  street,  which  were  thrown  the  other 
day  and  failed  to  explode.31  Everything  looks  serious  all  about 
us."  3a  On  the  night  of  May  9,  1862,  when  the  evacuation  of 
Pensacola  by  the  Eebels  took  place  and  Fort  Pickens  and  the 
Union  batteries  opened  on  forts  McRee  and  Barrancas  on  the 


26  Santa  Rosa  island,  Florida,  December  14  [15],  1861. 

27  Ibid.,  December  16   [17],  1861.      (Letter  begun  December  14  [15].) 

"  I  have  one  large  tent  by  myself  ( I  am  entitled  to  two )  which  is  all 
I  want  or  can  use.  It  is  neatly  framed  and  floored,  and.  I  have  for  fur 
niture,  my  camp  bed,  a  good  pine  table,  a  wash  cupboard,  shelves  and  nails 
for  all  my  books,  notions,  and  clothes.  My  bed  is  a  cot,  over  which  for 
a  mattress  I  have  a  thick  quilt  doubled,  a  quilt  for  a  pillow  and  my 
blanket  and  another  nice  quilt  for  bed  clothing.  ...  I  am  to  have 
some  barrel  chairs  in  a  day  or  two."  Ibid.,  December  20,  1861. 

29  Ibid. 

30 Ibid.,  December  14  [15],  1S61. 

31 A  surprise  attack  was  attempted  by  the  Confederates  on  the  night  of 
October  9,  1861,  from  the  rear,  against  Colonel  Wilson's  Zouaves.  The 
force  landed  on  the  eastern  end  of  the  island  by  night  and,  driving  in  or 
killing  the  pickets  stationed  in  a  line  across  the  island  about  3  miles  from 
the  fort,  nearly  succeeded  in  capturing  the  camp.  A  sharp  engagement 
took  place  and  the  Confederates  were  finally  defeated.  In  retaliation,  on 
November  22-23d  Fort  Pickens  as  well  as  the  other  Union  batteries  com 
manding  the  rebel  works  on  the  mainland  bombarded  the  whole  position 
furiously.  In  the  course  of  this  cannonading,  the  shells  spoken  of  were 
hurled.  War  of  the  Rebellion:  Official  Records  of  the  Union  and  Con 
federate  Armies,  series  I,  VI:  469-71. 

32  Santa  Rosa  island,  Florida,  December  16  [17],  1861.  (Letter  begun 
December  14  [15].) 


22  LETTERS  OP  GENERAL  BABCOCK 

mainland,  to  prevent  further  destruction  by  incendiarism,  the 
two  regiments  on  the  island  were  moved  some  2  miles  back  from 
the  fort  in  order  to  protect  them  from  any  return  shell  fire.33 
None  occurred,  however,  as  the  rebels  were  too  anxious  to  leave 
Pensacola  to  reply  to  such  a  terrific  bombardment. 

Discomforts  were  many  in  this  camp,  also,  although  Colonel 
Babcock  did  his  best  to  minimize  them.  As  the  camp  was  situ 
ated  on  the  white  sand  of  the  shore,  the  reflection  of  the  sun 
and  the  intense  heat  again  forced  the  drills  and  other  work  about 
camp  to  be  put  in  the  early  morning  or  late  afternoon.34  Millions 
of  sand  fleas  infested  the  island  and  the  men  retired  each  night 
and  "  began  a  battle  with  the  fleas/7  35  which  had  taken  refuge  in 
their  beds. 

Heavy  wind  and  rain  storms  swept  across  the  gulf,  striking 
the  island  with  their  full  force,  and  threatening  to  wreck  the 
encampment  erected  on  its  shore.  "  To-night  our  little  canvas 
shelter  shakes  and  rattles  and  flaps  in  the  breeze  —  or  rather  in 
the  gale  I  should  say  —  as  if  it  would  at  any  moment  come  down 
on  our  heads.  It  is  well  that  the  frame  which  sustains  our  awn 
ing  is  stout  and  that  it  is  held  down  by  three  heavy  wire  cables 
or  it  would  be  blown  to  shreds  in  ten  minutes.  I  have  tied  up 
my  tent  as  tight  as  I  can,  and  hung  up  blankets  over  the  only 
opening  in  it,  fastened  everything  taught,  but  my  papers  fly,  my 
candle  flares  and  melts,  and  my  table  shakes  in  the  general  dis 
turbance."  x  The  fierce  gales  carried  the  fine,  loose,  sand  every 
where,  into  the  tents,  beds  and  food,  driving  it  with  great  force 
against  the  faces  of  such  as  were  forced  to  be  out  in  the  storm.37 

The  heavy  wall  tents  were  not,  however,  available  for  active 
campaigning,  since  a  large  number  of  wagons  were  required  for 
their  transportation,  necessitating  slow  movements  by  the  army. 
The  men  when  on  the  march  carried  the  light  shelter  tent,  which 


33  Diary,  May  9,   1862. 

a48anta  Rosa  island,  Florida,  May  6,  1S62.      (Letter  begun  May  5th.) 

35  Ibid.,  February  7,  1862.      (Letter  begun  February  6th.) 

36  Ibid.,  March  2,  1862. 

37 "  The  wind  came  up  over  night  and  blew  this  morning  tremendously. 
The  sand  drifts  and  flies  into  one's  face,  eyes,  and  ears,  tent,  into  his  bed, 
among  his  papers,  and  even  into  the  victuals,  in  the  kitchen. 

The  wind  -howls  and  sweeps  around  us  tonight  a  perfect  gale,  blows  down 
tents  and  drives  the  sharp  sand  into  every  cranny.  ...  I  have  finished 
a  nice  door  to  my  tent,  which  one  of  the  boys  has  been  making  a  frame  for 
today, —  a  canvass  door  of  course.  Mine  is  covered  with  a  bed  tick  and  is 
quite  tight  and  snug,  and  keeps  out  much  cold  air  which  has  been  in  the 
habit  of  coming  in  without  rapping  at  my  casements."  Ibid.,  March  6,  1862. 


CAMPS   AND   FORTIFICATIONS  23 

furnished  protection  from  the  elements  very  quickly  with  mini 
mum  effort  and  required  no  time  to  strike,  ready  for  a  move. 
"  I  have  just  got  up  a  little  shelter  tent,  by  favor  of  my  faith 
ful  Daniel,38  and  it  affords  me  just  room  to  lie  down  with  my 
head  either  way.  My  saddle  is  arranged  for  my  pillow,  my 
saddle  blanket  is  my  carpet,  and  my  brown  blankets  are  my  bed. 
My  furniture  consists  as  yet  only  of  the  old  red  desk  which 
stands  on  the  ground  facing  my  bed  and  I  lie  down  on  my  elbow 
to  write."  39 

"  Imagine  a  little,  long  low  house  in  which  a  five-year  old 
baby  could  just  stand  up  at  the  ridge,  a  house  made  of  two  shelter 
tents,  long  enough  and  snug  enough  for  a  bed  for  two  or  two  and 
a  half,  carpeted  with  a  few  leaves  and  a  little  straw.  .  .  .  You 
would  think  I  must  be  at  the  furthest  end  but  I  am  not,  for 
beyond  me  are  saddles,  valises,  pistols,  sabers,  field  glasses,  dirty 
clothes,  harness,  and  other  miscellaneous  gear  enough  to  make  a 
neat  housekeeper  mad.  My  candle  and  ink  repose  together  on 
my  coat  which  is  folded  on  my  saddle  for  a  pillow.  I  sit  coiled 
upon  our  blankets,  like  a  Turk  on  his  rug,  twisting  about  to  get 
an  easy  position,  and  hope  for  a  full  night's  rest  —  our  greatest 
aspiration  here."  *°  During  a  storm,  the  discomforts  of  living  in 
a  shelter  tent  were  increased,  for  the  canvas  kept  off  only  part 
of  the  rain  and  there  was  nothing  to  prevent  the  ground  water 
from  running  under  the  edges  into  the  tent.41  As  September 
came,  the  nights  began  to  grow  cold  and  the  only  refuge  was 
inside  the  blankets  forming  the  bed,  since  there  was  little  protec 
tion  afforded  by  the  light  shelter  tunts.  "  On  a  rainy  dark  day 
I  tire  of  this  little  cramped  up  house,  where  the  only  attitude  of 
tolerable  comfort  is  to  be  prone  on  one's  back,  a  house  whose 
only  and  scanty  merit  is  that  it  keeps  out  the  rains."  42 

38  Daniel  was  a  fugitive  slave  who  had  come  into  Pensacola  in  1862, 
while  Colonel  Babcock  was  military  governor  there.  From  that  time  he 
had  served  him  as  a  body  servant. 

59  Tennallytown,  D.  C.,  August  10,   1864. 

40  Near  Berryville,  Va.,  September  11,  1864. 

41  "  Last  night  as  I  went   to  bed   it  was  even  more  bright  than  now    [a 
moonlight   night]    and   we   scarcely   thought   of    storm,   and   yet   in   an   hour 
it  was  raining  torrents,  dripping  on  our  heads,  running  under  our  beds  in 
rills,  washing  into  our  boots,  spoiling  our  papers  that  we  had  incautiously 
left  out,   and  generally  making  us  uneasy  lest  we   should  get  soaked.     We 
slept  by  spells,  in  much  worriment,  till  daybreak,  when  it  was  no  delight 
ful  task,  nor  one  I  would  wish  you  to  share,  to  get  up  and  hunt  one's  wet 
clothes,  boots   and  belt   in  the  dark,   and   turn   out  to   stand   to   arms   in   a 
pouring  rain.     But  it  had  to  be  done!      ...      It  has  rained  by  showers 
nearly   all   day   and  we  have  been   perfecting   our  house  until  tonight  it  is 
proof  against  bad  weather,  and  we  will  sleep  nicely."     Ibid.,  September   11, 

42  Berryville,  Va.,  September  14,  1864. 


24  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  BABCOCK 

When  the  troops  stayed  in  one  place  for  several  days,  addi 
tions  to  the  shelter  tents  were  built  of  boughs  or  rails  from  neigh 
boring  fences.  "  We  have  a  good  large  bough  house  for  shelter, 
and  Major  Thurber  is  working  away  with  the  aid  of  the  boys 
putting  up  our  shelter  tent  to  open  like  a  bed  room  out  of  our 
parlor;  so  that  we  cannot  complain  of  any  hardship."43  A  few 
days  later  Colonel  Babcock  writes:  "We  took  down  o<ur  house 
yesterday  and  built  a  wall  of  rails  for  it  about  two  feet  high, 
built  us  a  bunk  of  rails  softened  with  straw,  and  pitched  our 
shelters  high  enough  so  that  I  am  able  now  to  sit  comfortably 
on  the  bed  and  write  on  my  ammunition  box  very  like  a 
Christian."  44 

One  other  type  of  shelter  for  an  army  in  the  field  seems  to 
have  been  used  extensively  in  bivouacs  for  a  few  days,  the  rude 
hut,  constructed  hastily  by  the  soldiers  cut  of  boughs  or  broad 
fence  rails.  Wliile  Lieutenant  Babcock  was  with  the  Third  regi 
ment  in  Virginia  in  June  1861,  the  pickets  built  and  used  these 
huts  for  protection  from  the  heat  and  to  some  degree  from  bad 
weather.  "  The  ingenuity  of  our  predecessors  has  constructed 
numerous  little  huts  of  boughs  and  rails,  and  a  little  beyond  the 
old  Hut,  [an  old  deserted  negro  cabin]  in  the  shelter  of  the 
forest,  and  but  a  step  from  the  road  you  can  find  what  is  now 
the  '  Officers  Quarters ',  a  place.  ...  of  some  ingenuity  and 
pretensions.  ...  A  large  wild  grape  vine  has  climbed  to  the 
top  of  a  vigorous  mulberry  tree  and  wound  and  interlaced  itself 
all  about  its  boughs  and  among  the  boughs  of  a  couple  of  thriving1 
saplings  close  by  it,  and  hanging  down  over  the  outer  boughs  of 
them  all,  it  forms  a  beautiful  little  bower.  The  limbs  and  brush 
have  been  cleaned  away  under  it,  and  a  rustic  seat  erected.  .  .  . 
The  rays  of  the  sun  are  all  shut  out  and  the  cool  breeze  from 
the  North  comes  along  the  clearing  and  rustles  through  the 
trees."  45 

Much  less  ornamental  than  this  headquarters  for  the  picket 
guard  in  a  Virginia  forest  but  far  more  useful  were  the  rude 
shelters  erected  by  the  soldiers,  first  near  Opelousas,  and  later 
on  the  lines  besieging  Port  Hudson,  La.,  in  1863.  "  It  is  a 

43  Near    Charlestown,   Va.,    September    2,    1S64. 

44  Berryville,  Va.,   September    16,    1864.      (Letter  begun   September    14th.) 

45  Camp   Hamilton,  Va.,   July   2,   1861. 

"We  went  out  yesterday  morning  on  picket  duty  and  our  company  was 
quartered  at  the  little  bower  of  which  I  wrote  you.  ...  In  the  fore 
noon  it  was  very  pleasant.  ...  It  rained  a  little  in  the  afternoo^ 
but  was  comparatively  comfortable  until  near  midnight  when  it  began  to 
rain  in  torrents,  and  absolutely  poured  down  steadily,  until  long  after 


CAMPS   AND   FORTIFICATIONS  25 

delightful  place  where  we  are,  in  a  beautiful  level  plain,  like 
one  of  our  Homer  meadows,  as  bright  and  green  as  ever  you 
saw,  and  a  few  minutes  ago  it  was  dotted  with  a  magnificent 
herd  of  cattle.  The  weary  soldiers  are  building  their  huts  with 
the  broad  rails  from  the  fences,  plucking  chickens,  cutting  up 
beef,  and  making  ready  for  a  luxurious  rest  over  the  morrow."  46 
"  We  are  shut  out  from  the  civilized  world  by  groves  of  trees 
on  every  side.  In  front,  bounded  like  our  camp  by  trees,  is  a 
beautiful  parade,  in  rear  are  a  number  of  nice  springs  bubbling 
out  like  our  Northern  springs,  all  around  us  is  contented,  ani 
mated  life.  My  house  has  as  yet  but  an  imperfect  roof  and  two 
sides,  all  made  of  fence  pickets,  but  Daniel  will  complete  it 
before  night,  so  as  to  keep  the  sun  out.  As  for  rain,  let  it  come 
and  to  the  earth  which  way  it  will.  Daniel  is  sweeping  off  the 
turf  around  my  house,  as  good  natured  as  he  is  busy.  The  horses 
stand  near  in  the  shade,  and  the  hum  of  camp  has  a  subdued 
Sunday  sound."  47 

A  bough  hut  sheltered  the  besiegers  in  some  of  the  positions 
on  the  Port  Hudson  line,  offering  a  certain  amount  of  protection 
against  the  bullets  of  the  sharpshooters,  and  a  refuge  from  the 
heat.48  During  the  campaign  of  August  and  September  of  1864, 
a  combination  of  shelter  tents  and  bough  huts  was  used,  since 
the  shelter  hut  merely  furnished  room  for  sleeping  quarters. 
"  Regimental  Hd.  Qrs.  are  in  the  field  behind  the  center  [of  the 
line  of  works]  where  Major  Thurber  and  myself  have  a  good 

daylight  this  morning.  I  lay  down  about  10  o'clock,  somewhat  tired,  and 
fixed  my  bed  on  a  little  sloping  platform  of  slats  so  that  water  would  not 
stand  on  it.  My  bed  of  course,  was  my  rubber  blanket,  and  this  time  I 
had  my  large  white  blanket.  When  it  began  to  rain  I  rolled  up  in  my 
white  blanket  and  stretched  the  rubber  blanket  over  head  and  feet  and 
addressed  myself  again  to  sleep.  While  it  poured  in  streams  over  head 
and  feet  and  body,  I  slept  away,  waking  often  but  falling  away  again  until 
near  daylight  when  it  began  to  be  so  wet,  that  I  had  to  be  conscious  of  it. 
'  Dan  Rice/  our  boy,  lay  near  me  on  his  rubber  blanket  with  a  woolen  one 
over  him,  wet  to  the  skin,  snoring  away  for  dear  life.  Capt.  Catlin  was 
by  my  side,  wet  as  a  rat,  and  all  around  us  in  the  little  bush  tents,  the 
boys  were  keeping  out  rain  as  well  as  might  be."  Ibid.,  July  7,  1861. 
(Letter  begun  July  5th.) 

46Opelousas,  La.,  April  20,    1863. 

47  Ibid.,  April  26,   1863. 

48 "  I  do  not  know  that  I  shall  live  to  write  my  name  to  this  letter 
.  .  .  for  one  bullet  has  passed  through  my  shelter  of  boughs  since  I  have 
been  writing. 

"You  may  be  sure  that  I  am  by  this  time  very  tired,  for  I  have  not 
had  a  fair  sleep  since  we  parted,  unless  my  rest  last  night  can  be  called 
fair,  when  I  slept  without  a  dry  thread  of  clothing,  within  fifty  feet  of 
a  battery  which  was  firing  a  good  deal,  amid  the  thunders  of  the  mortars 
of  the  fleet,  and  the  incessant  rattle  of  the  sharpshooters'  rifles  not  far  to 
the  front."  Near  Port  Hudson,  La.,  May  30,  1863. 


26  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  BABCOCK 

sized  house  of  boughs  along  the  back  side  of  which  we  have  a 
good  seat  of  rails,  which  answers  for  a  lounge  in  front  of  this 
a  table  on  which  I  write,  and  on  the  floor  a  carpet  of  straw. 
Major  T.  is  building  a  toilet  stand  with  a  cracker  box,  which 
will  fill  one  corner.  In  front  it  is  open,  and  a  sentry  paces  his 
beat.  At  my  right  opening  into  the  house,  is  my  shelter  tent, 
carpeted  with  a  large  oilcloth,  and  in  it  you  could  see  our  bed 
as  we  got  out  of  it,  solid  if  not  ornamental.  .  .  .  Daniel  is 
just  back  of  me,  busy  washing  my  clothes  and  doing  some  other 
jobs  of  the  sort  for  which  he  receives  postal  currency."  49 

Sometimes  when  a  halt  was1  made  only  for  the  night  the  men 
did  not  take  the  trouble  to  pitch  tents  or  build  bough  huts,  but 
merely  lay  down  on  the  ground  wrapped  in  their  blankets. 
Tent-flies  were  erected  for  the  officers.50  In  the  course  of  the 
march  to  attaek  Port  Hudson  conditions  were  even  worse  than 
usual.  "In  the  morning  we  went  to  Bayou  Sara  [from  Mor- 
ganzia] ,  and  landed,  where  we  cooked  two  days'  rations  and  then, 
in  the  afternoon,  in  the  worst  dust  I  ever  saw,  cooped  up 
between  high  hedges  all  the  way,  marched  to  a  point  above  Port 
Hudson,  in  the  woods  near  the  river.  We  lay  down  in  a  dry, 
dusty  corn-field  after  dark,  and  without  water  to  wash  or  much 
to  drink,  tried  to  rest.  Early  next  morning.  Tuesday,  we  wound 
our  way  through  the  worst  roads  I  ever  saw  in  the  woods,  (we 
have  seen  worse  every  day  since,)  to  a  field  about  3/4  of  a  mile 
from  the  enemy's  outer  lines  of  defense,  where  their  pickets  had 
been  driven  in  the  day  before  by  Col.  Van  Zandt's  brigade. 
Here  we  lay  until  Wednesday  morning,  and  had  a  very  fair 
chance  to  rest,  though  greatly  troubled  by  scarcity  of  water." 

Shelter  was  often  obtained  for  the  troops  when  -they  reached 
towns  or  cities  by  commandeering  empty  buildings  for  their 
accommodation.52  This  process  became  a  favorite  means  with  the 
officers  in  getting  suitable  houses  for  regimental,  brigade  and 
division  headquarters.53  The  officers  of  the  first  body  of  troops 
to  come  up  would  requisition  the  best  houses  for  headquarters, 
and  other  later  forces  had  to  take  what  was  left.  A  similar 
process  was  employed  in  getting  quarters  for  the  staff  officers 
attached  to  the  headquarters  of  the  Department  of  the  Gulf  in 

49  Near   Charlestown,   Va.,   September    11,   1864. 

50  Near  Franklin,  La.,  April   14,    1863. 

51  "  Port  Hudson  or  Thereabouts,"  La.,  May  30,  1863. 

52  Baltimore.  Md.,  July  20,   1861. 

53  Camp  Fubbard,  near  Thiborleaux,  August  1,  1863. 


CAMPS   AND   FORTIFICATIONS  27 

New  Orleans.  A  formal  inventory  was  taken  54  and  houses  were 
commandeered  for  the  use  of  the  army.  A  superior  officer  could 
and  did  order  subordinates  to  find  other  quarters,  if  he  desired 
the  house  they  had.55 

The  permanent  regimental  camps  were  laid  out  according  to  a 
given  plan  prescribed  "  by  army  regulations."  A  large  space  was 
always  reserved  in  front  of  the  line  of  tents  for  the  battalion 
parade  ground.56  "  Our  streets  are  being  regularly  ditched  and 
leveled,  drains  dug  in  rear  of  tents,  arches  built  for  fire  places 
and  the  ground  in  front  of  the  officers'  tents  smoothed  and  cleaned 
off.  I  have  made  a  diagram  of  our  camp  —  all  regimental  camps 
are  alike,  by  regulation.  .  .~°  . 

"  Where  the  letters  A.  B.  O.  D.  etc.  are  is  the  front  of  the 
camp  where  we  form  our  regimental  line.  The  streets  of  the 
privates  and  sergeants  and  corporals  are  numbered  from  right  to 
left  123456  etc.,  one  for  each  company  perpendicular  to 
the  front.  Each  company  has  a  street  with  a  row  of  tents  on 
each  side  facing  inward.  The  row  of  circles  which  you  see  is 
the  company  kitchens.  The  next  row,  running  parallel  to  the 
front  and  perpendicular  to  the  'Company  streets  is  the  tents  of 
the  '  Non  Commissioned  'Staff,'  consisting  of  Assistant  Surgeon, 
Quarter  Master's  Sergeant,  Sergeant  Major,  Drum  Major  etc. 
The  next  row  is  that  of  the  '  officers  of  the  line,'  Captains  & 
Lieuts.  I  have  marked  my  tent  with  a  cross  and  Capt.  Catlin's 
with  a  little  circle.  In  rear  of  us  are  the  tents  of  the  Col. 
Lieut.  Col.  Major  &  Col.'s  staff  consisting  of  Chaplain,  Adjutant, 
Quarter  Master  and  Surgeon."  57  This  was  the  normal  arrange 
ment  of  a  regimental  camp,  but  circumstances  often  altered  the 
form.  On  Santa  Eosa  island,  owing  to  the  conformation  of  the 
ground,  the  camp  was  "  pitched  between  two  sand  ridges  running 
parallel  to  the  Island  all  on  one  street." 

54  "  We  have  not  lacked  our  evening  sport  today.  Yesterday  I  went  with 
Col.  Sherburne  [chief  of  staff  under  General  Davidson]  and  we  had  this 
house  assigned  to  us  as  quarters.  By  the  way,  they  count  the  rooms  in 
houses  now.  and  assign  a  house  to  two  or  more  officers.  Today  at  5  P.  M. 
the  Qr.  Mr's.  Clerk  came  up  to  take  an  inventory  of  the  property  here." 

"Well,  they  will  have  to  go  out  in  a  day  or  two.  Col.  Sherburne  will 
have  the  front  rooms.  .  .  .  Col.  S.  expects  his  wife  and  children  soon, 
and  I  shall  probably  live  with  them."  New  Orleans,  La.,  July  13,  1864. 
(Letter  begun  July  12th.) 

55 "  Gen.  Davidson  [the  new  chief  of  cavalry!  has  taken  the  Slocum 
House,  and  notified  Lt.  Col.  Abert  and  Capt.  Crosby  to  get  out  of  it  today. 
This  highly  summary  mode  of  getting  a  house  is  superior  to  the  patent 
of  Major  Carpenter  and  myself."  New  Orleans,  La.,  June  26,  1864. 

56  Camp  Hamilton,  Va.,  July  24,  1861. 

57  Camp  Hamilton,  Va.,  July  24,  1861. 

58  Santa  Rosa  Island,  Fla.,  December  16,   1861.      (Letter  begun  December 
14  [15],  1861.) 


28 


LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  BABCOCK 


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CAMPS  AND   FORTIFICATIONS  29 

It  was  difficult  to  keep  a  camp  occupied  by  such  a  large  num 
ber  of  men,  clean  and  sanitary,  but  this  was  accomplished  as 
far  as  possible  by  changing  the  site  at  intervals,  and  by  a  general 
cleaning  up  of  the  grounds.  "  On  Saturday  afternoons,  once  in 
two  weeks,  we  strike  our  tents,  tip  up  the  floors,  clear  out  the 
rats,  sweep  up  and  air  everything.  It  would  interest  you  to  see 
us  take  down  our  village.  Three  taps  of  the  drum,  and  the  men 
stand  by  their  tents  and  loosen  the  cords.  Then  a  single  tap  of 
the  drum,  and  the  officer  at  the  head  of  each  company  street 
orders  '  Strike/  when  down  goes  the  whole  camp  in  an  instant.'7  59 

The  question  of  water  supply  was  always  one  of  great  import 
ance  in  the  selection  of  a  camp  site,  for  on  it  would  depend  in 
large  degree  the  health  of  the  force.  In  Virginia,  near  the  coast, 
where  the  Third  regiment  was  encamped,  the  water  was  more  or 
less  brackish,  and  not  clear,  but  as  no  other  was  available  the 
men  had  to  use  it.60  Of  the  water  encountered  near  Vermillion 
river  in  Louisiana,  Colonel  Babcock  says,  "  We  found  the  water 
poor  [along  the  line  of  march]  and  our  men  were  terribly 
thirsty  and  footsore  when  at  six  o'clock  we  stopped  for  the 
night  and  bivouacked  behind  our  line  of  stacks.  There  was  ,a 
large  lake  just  in  front  of  us,  but  the  water  was  such  as  cattle 
at  the  North  could  not  be  induced  to  drink,  muddy,  dark,  and  so 
full  of  vegetable  matter  decayed  and  decaying,  that  the  coffee 
made  from  it  was  almost  intolerable.  Of  course  fever  and  ague 
must  follow  the  use  of  it."  61 

Such,  then,  were  the  camps  themselves,  with  their  problems 
of  shelter  for  so  many  hundred,  of  keeping  the  camp  site  as 
free  as  possible  from  waste  and  filth,  which  would  breed  disease, 
and  of  securing  a  good  water  supply,  to  prevent  sickness,  with 
its  attendant  reduction  of  battle  efficiency  in  the  regiment  and 
army. 

FORTIFICxVTIONS 

Two  classes  of  fortifications  call  for  consideration:  the  field 
works,  erected  for  protecting  a  camp  or  firing  line;  and  the 
more  permanent  forts  and  batteries  guarding  important  points, 
both  Union  and  Confederate. 

The  usual  means  of  defending  a  camp  or  firing  line  from  a 
surprise  attack  was  an  abattis,  ordinarily  constructed  of  felled 

59  Fort  MoHenry,  Baltimore,  October  27,  1861. 

80  Camp  Hamilton,  Va.,  June  27,  1861.      (Letter  begun  June  25th.) 

81  Near  Vermillion  river,  La.,  April  18,  1863. 


30  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  BABCOCK 

trees  with  the  branches  extending  outward  from  the  position.62 
Some  entrenching  was  done,  and  the  whole  line,  if  possible, 
guarded  by  redoubts  or  field  forts,63  in  which  the  batteries  were 
placed  in  such  a  position  as  to  command  the  line  of  approach. 
As  attacks  usually  were  made  by  rushes  in  mass  formation  directly 
through  the  field  of  fire,  under  cover  of  cannonading  from  their 
own  batteries  the  losses  were  heavy  in  attempting  to  take  such  a 
defended  position.64 

The  difficulty  of  attacking  a  place  of  this  sort  is  shown  by  a 
letter  describing  the  first  assault  on  Port  Hudson.  "Our  way 
led  through  the  woods,  over  the  most  broken  ground  I  ever  saw, 
obstructed  by  deep  gulches,  running  every  way,  trees  and  brush, 
and  in  some  places  by  rude  abattis  made  by  the  enemy.  ;v!  ijr;;u, 
At  six  o'clock  the  advance  began.  .  .  .  We  pushed  on 
through  the  woods,  keeping  as  good  a  line  as  we  could,  and  by 
seven  o'clock  the  woods  resounded  with  the  volleys  of  the  advance 
and  the  enemy's  first  line.  Shortly  after  the  firing  commenced, 
we  overtook  the  first  line  (Col.  Van  Zandt's  brigade)65  and  at  the 
moment  cf  reaching  the  enemy's  position  on  the  crest  of  a  high 
ridge,  passed  them  all.  .  .  .  Before  us  was  an  immense 
broken  hollow,  or  as  we  afterwards  found,  succession  of  hollows 
in  one  large  one,  in  which  the  enemy  had  felled  trees  in  every 
direction,  leaving  only  one  road  forward  to  this  position,  a  road 
which  was  swept  by  grape  and  canister  from  a  battery  of  five 
guns,  one  rifled  forty-two  and  four  smaller  ones,  situated  on  a 
high  hill  beyond. 

"  In  these  hollows,  were  1500  Arkansas  troops,  some  concealed 
and  firing,  others  already  fleeing."  66  A  desperate  charge  carried  a 
small  force  of  men  through  this  road  to  a  very  advanced  position 


B2  Santa  Rosa  island,  Fla.,  January  3,  1861. 
63  IUd.,  February  15,  1862.  (Letter  begun  February  6th.) 
64 "  Our  Regt.  was  the  advance  guard  of  the  force  until  we  formed  line 
in  front  of  the  enemy's  position.  They  had  a  battery  on  the  road,  with 
two  32  pdrs.,  [i.  e.  pounders]  a  rifle  pit  from  the  bayou  to  the  woods,  and 
field  batteries  in  position  at  intervals,  all  on  the  very  line  where  the  75th 
lay  on  the  Bethel  place  when  the  Gotten  was  burned.  The  Diana  [a 
gunboat]  came  down  the  bayou  also,  and  when  our  line  came  within  easy 
range,  they  opened  a  perfect  feud'enfer  on  us.  .  .  .  The  fire  was  very 
accurate,  the  very  first  or  second  shot  dropped  one  of  Canuth's  teams, 
[Canuth  was  captain  of  a  battery  on  this  campaign]  while  iron  flew  every 
where."  Franklin,  La.,  April  14,  1863. 

65  Colonel   Van   Zandt's  regiment  was   the  Ninety-first  New  York   Volun 
teers,  but  he  was  acting  brigade  commander  at  this  time. 

66  Near  Port  Hudson,  La.,  May  30,   1863. 


CAMPS  AND   FORTIFICATIONS  31 

which  they  successfully  held,  in  one  of  these  gullies.67  "  Luckily 
we  got  into  a  fine  place  and  were  able  to  hold  our  own,  though 
I  was  in  mortal  fear  of  being  killed  by  the  troops  behind  us  who 
dropped  into  shelter  and  fired  all  around  us.  The  rebs  tried 
every  way  to  drive  us  out,  and  fired  charge  after  charge  of  grape 
at  us  but  we  soon  were  reinforced  so  that  we  silenced  the  whole 
battery  of  five  guns.  They  shifted  position  of  the  guns,  and 
finally  brought  out  a  field  piece  in  some  bushes,  but  we  drove 
them  away  and  kept  them  from  firing  this  piece  or  hauling  it 
away  until  after  dark  that  night.  We  lay  about  10  to  15  rods 
from  the  enemy's  rifle  pits,  almost  between  two  of  their  camps, 
from  Wednesday  morning  until  Friday  noon." 

On  Thursday  evening  "  The  enemy  crept  down  a  ravine  to 
within  forty  or  fifty  feet  of  us,  but  made  no  attempt  on  our 
position."  68  Siege  works  were  gradually  pushed  forward  day  by 
day,  forming  a  smaller  ring  around  the  rebel  fortress.  The 
pioneers  were  put  to  work  advancing  the  saps  and  approaches 
toward  the  enemy's  position  and  making  ready  for  the  final 
assault.  Through  one  of  these  covered  trenches  leading  to  the 
ditch  in  front  of  the  rebel  breastworks,  the  advance  party  of 
skirmishers  attacked,  on  the  morning  of  June  14,  1863,  only 
to  be  repulsed  with  great  loss  of  officers  and  men  by  the  Con 
federates  who  had  located  the  end  of  the  sap  and  swept  it  with  a 
heavy  fire.  On  July  1st  Colonel  Babcock  writes,  "  Our  men  now 
have  covered  approaches  to  within  20  or  30  feet  of  the  enemy's 
works,  our  batteries  are  being  constantly  planted  on  smaller 
concentric  circles  and  everything  looks  well."  69 

Volunteers  for  a  "  forlorn  hope "  were  asked  for,  called  the 
volunteer  thousand  storming  party,  to  be  hurled  forward  against 
a  breach  when  made  by  the  explosion  of  a  mine,  laid  by  the 
engineers  under  a  vital  point  of  the  main  breastworks.  This 
mine,  however,  was  never  blown  up,  partly  because  General  Banks 
did  not  want  to  sacrifice  so  many  men,  many  of  whom  were 
officers,  and  partly  because  Port  Hudson  surrendered  without  the 
necessity  of  a  third  general  assault. 

67  Following  a  charge  along  a  road  swept  by  shell  from  a  five-gun  bat 
tery,  "  I  reached  the  most  advanced  position  which  we  have  yet  occupied, 
and  saw  the  rebs  running  up  the  hill  beyond  into  their  inner  line  of  rifle- 
pits  and  found  myself  here  with  only  five  or  six  men,  one  of  whom  was 
Johnny  Matthews  [of  Company  F,  the  first  man  to  respond  to  the  call  for 
a  charge]  and  another,  a  boy  of  the  91st  Regt.,  who  was  already  hit 
twice."  Near  Port  Hudson,  La.,  May  30,  1863. 

18  Near  Port  Hudson,  La.,  May  30,   1863. 

"Port  Hudson,  La.,  July   1,   1863. 


32  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  BABCOCK 

Entrenching  was  the  method  used  by  the  Army  of  the  Potomac 
during  the  latter  part  of  the  war,  and  new  positions  were  promptly 
defended  by  breastworks.  This  use  of  earthworks  seems  to  have 
been  something  of  a  novelty  to  the  men  from  the  western  armies, 
although  rifle  pits  had  been  used  in  the  attack  on  Port  Hudson. 
"  The  'Sixth  Corps  was  lighting  quite  briskly  for  some  hours 
near  us,  and  after  a  good  deal  of  maneuvering  we  got  into  posi 
tion  on  the  left,  and  received  orders  to  entrench  ourselves  after 
the  manner  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  So  our  men  went  to 
work  almost  literally  with  tooth  and  nail,  as  they  had  no  entrench 
ing  tools.  Before  dark  we  had  quite  a  formidable  protection 
raised,  and  were  ordered  to  stop  and  get  what  rest  we  could." 70 
On  the  firing  line  near  Berryville,  "  Our  position  was  in  a  cross 
road  in  the  edge  of  a  wood  with  a  cornfield  in  front.  We  had 
orders  at  once  to  throw  up  breastworks,  and  although  the  ground 
looked  bare  and  unpromising,  it  was  not  long  before  we  had  a 
good  deal  of  shelter.  In  an  hour  or  so,  we  received  some  entrench 
ing  tools,  and  by  ten  P.  M.  we  lay  down  on  our  arms,  well  covered." 

"  This  morning  at  daybreak  we  stood  to  arms,  but  Johnny  Reb 
did  not  come  and  we  had  orders  to  cease  fortifying.  But  later 
orders  directed  us  to  build  an  abattis  in  front  of  our  work,  and 
we  are  still  busy  at  it."  71 

Field  works,  also,  were  used  to  strengthen  the  permanent  forts. 
Redoubts  and  rifle  pits  were  built  to  command  the  roads  and 
approaches  to  the  main  position  in  such  a  way  as  to  subject  the 
attacking  forces  to  heavy  loss  in  reaching  the  main  fortification. 
"  We  are  still  building  batteries  commanding  the  roads  from 
land  to  the  Fort  "  72  [Fortress  Monroe,  Ya.]. 

The  permanent  forts  were  large  structures  of  masonry  and 
earth  built  to  control  important  positions,  with  their  heavy  guns 
and  mortars.  On  the  Patapsco  river,  which  forms  the  sea 
entrance  to  the  city  of  Baltimore,  were  two  forts,  Fort  Carroll, 
and  Fort  McHenry,  commanding  the  approaches  with  ease.73 

70Halltown,  Va.,  August   23,   1864. 

71  Near   Charlestown,  Va.,  September  4,    1864.      (Letter   begun   September 
2d.) 

72  Camp   Hamilton,   Va.,   July   23,    1861.      (Letter  begun   July   21st.) 

73  "The   Patapsco    River    some    six   miles   below   the    City    proper    [Balti 
more]    is  quite   narrow,   and   Fort   Carroll,  a  little   Fort  like   Sumpter    [sic] 
right  in  the  water  commands  the  channel  with  great  ease.     But  just  above 
Fort  Carroll  it  spreads  out  into  two  branches,  and  the  Point  between  them  is 
Locust  Point.     Fort  McHenry  is  on  the  North   side  of  this   Point  and  we 
are    encamped    in    the    shade    of    the    locust    of   Locust    Point.     .     .     .     The 
North  branch  of  the  River  is  merely  a  long  deep  bay  and  the  City  stands 
on  its  Northern  shore."    Fort  McHenry,  Baltimore,  August  3,  1861. 


BLUFFS   AT  PORT   HUDSON 


BATTERY    AT    PORT    HUDSON 


RGK    GUN    AT    PORT    HI 


PARAPET  OP  PRIEST  CAP  AT  PORT  HUDSON 


VIEW   OF   PRIEST   CAP   AT    PORT    HUDSON 


VIEW    AT    PRIEST    CAP,    PORT    HUDSON 


WORKS    AT    PRIEST    CAP,    PORT   HUDSON' 


THE    CITADEL    AT    PORT    HUDSON 


BATTERY    AT    PORT   HUDSON 


PRIEST    CAP    WORKS    AT    PORT    HUDSON' 


;rx    OPPOSITE  HOLCKOM'S  BATTKRY  AT  PORT  HUDSON* 


CAMPS   AND   FORTIFICATIONS 


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34  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  BABCOCK 

"Above  you  see  our  surrounding's.  The  Fort  proper  is  on  the 
right  where  you  see  the  flag-staff.  You  can  see  the  walls  and 
the  buildings  inside  which  cannot  be,  or  are  not,  correctly  repre 
sented,  as  in  fact,  there  are  five  of  them,  just  alike,  long  two 
story  brick  buildings  on  as  many  sides  of  the  Fort,  inside  of  the 
walls  and  facing  inward.  On  the  side  towards  you,  inside  of 
all  are  a  few  trees  and  a  little  shrubbery,  and  under  a  large  well 
laden  peach  tree  in  front  of  the  building  whose  rear  you  see, 
am  I,  sweating  away  in  my  regimentals  and  writing  to  you.  In 
the  foreground  is  the  main  gate  where  all  visitors  by  land  must 
enter,  on  the  left  is  the  bay  which  stretches  away  up  t\vo  miles 
to  receive  the  monumental  city  on  its  other  bank.  Away  in  the 
background  the  Patapseo  stretches  to  the  Bay.  The  buildings 
down  .  .  .  [Ms  missing  74  ve]  ran  on.  all  sides  which  is 
the  Hospital  of  the  Fort.  The  tents  you  see  arc-mid  are  for 
prisoners  and  the  guard.  Behind  the  w^all  you  see,  and  looking 
towards  you,  and  towards  the  city  of  Baltimore  is  a  row  of  huge 
moitars  and  on  the  ramparts  are  a  couple  of  huge  10  inch  Colum- 
biads  by  means  of  which  Maj.  Morris  who  commands  the  Fort 
says  he  could  set  Baltimore  so  in  flames  in  fifteen  minutes  time 
that  it  could  not  be  extinguished." 

"  The  Fort  is  being  strengthened  every  day  .and  a  hundred 
men  are  now  at  work  mounting  huge  mortars  on  the  Baltimore 
side  of  the  ramparts.  Woe  1x3  to  Baltimore  if  ever  her  streets 
are  again  filled  with  a  secession  mob  thirsty  for  union  or  yankee 
blood.  Major  Morris  who  commands  in  the  Fort  is  a,  rather  fussy 
old  gentleman  with  gray  hair  and  whiskers  who  wears  a  cocked 
hat  and  military  boots,  but  he  is  a  New  Yorker,  who  would  like  a 
chance  to  shell  Baltimore.75  He  and  Oapt.  De  Russey,  whom  I 
spoke  of  ais  our  possible  Ool.  'Superintend  the  work.  There  is  an 
Artesian  well  being  bored  in  the  fort  near  where  I  sit.  I  suppose 
the  Fort  proper  is  not  far  from  the  size  of  Ft.  Sumter,  though  its 
wralls  are  not  so  high  and  there  are  no  casemate  guns.76  All  are 
mounted  fen  barbette  ' 71  as  it  is  called.78 


74  A  part  of  the  letter  had  been  out  out  at  this  point  and  is  missing. 
Evidently  a  picture  of  Fort  McHenry  was  on  the  front  page  and  was 
removed. 

7r>  A  mob  of  southern  sympathizers  fired  on  the  Sixth  Massachusetts 
regiment  in  the  streets  of  Baltimore,  Md.,  on  April  19,  1801,  killing  several 
men. 

76  Casement  guns  were  cannons  set   in   armored  chambers,   firing  through 
embrasures  in   the  walls.     With  this  arrangement  there  was  a   large  meas 
ure  of  protection   for  the  cannoneers  serving  the  guns. 

77  Guns  mounted  en  "barbette  were  cannon   placed  on  platforms  inside  the 
fortifications  high  enough  to  permit  firinir  over  the  top  of  the  parapet. 

78  Fort    McHenry,.    Baltimore,    August    11,    1M61. 


CAMPS   AND   FORTIFICATIONS  35 

Tlmv  sinmg  fortresses  guarded  the  entrance  to  Peiisacola 
harbor,  Florida,  in  1862;  Fort  Pickens,  on  Santa  Rosa  island, 
and  Ton-  Hai-rancns  ;ind  AIcRee  opposite  to  it,  on  the  mainland. 
"Fort  [MrKea  is  a  huge  circular  inclosure  of  brick  on  the  shore 
of  the  mainland  en  our  left  as  we  come  in,  by  ship,  but  we  did 
not  pass  near  enough  to  it  to  make  out  how  many  tiers  of  guns 
if  has. 

"  Fort  Pickens  is  a  square  brick  fort  east  of  McRea  and  on 
Santa  Uo<:i  island."79  For  a  number  of  years  prior  to  1861, 
this  fort  had  not  been  kept  in  repair  nor  garrisoned,  since  the 
i unifications  on  the  mainland  controlled  the  channel  and  com 
munication  was  easier  with  them.  As  secession  developed,  how 
ever,  and  various  forts  and  arsenals  were  seized  by  order  of  the 
Rebel  state  officials,  Lieutenant  Slemmer,  who  commanded  the 
Union  garrison  at  forts  Barrancas  and  AIcRee,80  knowing  that  he 
could  not  hold  the  positions  on  the  mainland  against  a  prolonged 
attack  and  siege,  withdrew  with  his  force;  to  Santa  Kosa  island, 
and  began  to  put  it  in  shape  for  defense. 

"  There  has  never  been  any  sham  about  the  war  at  this  Post, 
From  the  time  the  gallant  Slemmer  came  over  to  Pickens  and 
began  to  put  it  in  order  for  defense,81  there  has  been  only  hard 
work  here.  For  many  years,  Fort  Pickens  had  not  even  been 
garrisoned,  and  Santa  Rosa  was  only  inhabited  by  alligators, 
rattle  snakes,  and  ducks. 

"  Immense  i  blinders  ?  have  been  built  over  the  casemates,  and 
magazines,  columbiads  mounted,  on  the  bastions  and  protected  by 
sand  bags,  heavy  mortars  mounted,  batteries,  Cameron,  Scott, 
Lincoln,  and  Totten,  erected  and  put  in  complete  order,82  bomb- 

79  On    hoard    Steamer   Baltic,    December    13,    1861.      (Letter   begun   Decem 
ber  6.) 

80  TT'ar  of  tlie  Rebellion;  Official  Records,  series  1,1:  333-40. 

81  Lieutenant  Slemmer  transferred  his  command  to  Fort  Pickens  on  Santa 
Rosa    island,    from    forts    MoRee    and    Barrancas    on    the    mainland,    during 
the  days  of  January  0,   10,  and   11,   1SG1.     Lamed,  Cyclopedia  of  Classified 
Dates,  p.   190. 

"  The  work  of  debarkation  being  completed,  the  camp  was  laid  out 
and  received  the  name  of  '  Camp  Seward  '.  Near  the  southern  shore  of 
the  island  and  a  short  distance  to  the  east  of  the  fort,  the  tents  were 
rau»ed  on  the  sides  of  a  regular  street  running  east  and  west,  known  in 
the  right  wing  [of  the  regiment]  as  Broadway,  and  in  the  left  as  Lin 
coln  Avenue.  Between  the  two  wings,  which  were  camped  a  little  way 
apart,  was  Battery  Totten,  mounting  two  mortars  of  twelve  and  thirteen 
inch  bores  respectively.  .  .  . 

"Our  boys  were  not  long  in  making  an  acquaintance  with  their  sur 
roundings.  The  big  fort  was  the  chief  object  of  interest,  its  soil  walls  and 
huge  guns  formed  a  picture  of  impregnability.  Between  the  fort  and  the 
western  extremity  of  the  island  was  planted  Battery  Scott,  whose  works 


36  LETTERS  OP  GENERAL  BABCOCK 

proofs  built,  hospitals  and  storehouses  constructed,  plank  roads 
laid,  boats,  flats  and  barges  collected,  stores  of  forage,  wood,  pro 
visions  and  ammunition  landed  through  the  surf  at  great  risk 
and  with  the  greatest  labor,  and  transported  from  one  to  two 
miles  through  this  soft  loose  sand,  all  with  a  force  which  now 
numbers  less  than  two  full  regiments,  and  has  for  most  of  the 
summer  numbered  less  than  1200  men  sick  and  well.  For  months 
the  troops  here  landed  all  their  .stores  near  two  miles  from  the 
fort,  and  under  a  broiling  sun,  on  the  blinding  white  sand,  rolled 
barrels  and  boxes,  and  carried  tents  and  ammunition  all  that 
distance  by  hand  for  want  of  mules  and  carts.  Day  and  night,  in 
the  heat  and  cold  (for  both  are  here),  the  poor  fellows  tugged  and 
labored,  compelled  to  exercise  constant  vigilance  against  the 
enemy,  until  a  state  of  complete  and  perfect  defense  has  been 
arrived  at.  It  is  probable  now  that  the  enemy  with  a  line  of 
works  four  miles  in  length  forming  a  semi-circle  of  which  Pickens 
is  the  center,  might  bombard  us  for  a  twelve  month  and  our  works 
be  very  little  the  worse  for  it  Lieut.  Slemmer  died  in  November^ 
a  martyr  to  his  zeal  and  exhausting  labors  here." 

The  Confederates,  also,  had  devoted  great  attention  to  the 
protection  of  Pensacola  with  its  magnificent  harbor.  Marshes, 
forests  and  bayous  had  been  used  to  good  advantage  in  guarding 
the  land  approaches,  and  forts  McRee  and  Barrancas,  with  the 
navy  yard  batteries  and  other  works  extending  for  four  miles, 
controlled  the  entrance  from  the  sea.84  These  fortifications  had 
been  used  in  the  attack  on  Fort  Pickens  in  connection  with  a 
land  attack  from  the  rear,  on  the  night  of  October  9,  1861,  but 


consisted  of  well  filled  sand  bags,  carefully  piled;  directly  north  of  Camp 
Sevvard,  near  the  shore  of  the  narrow  island,  was  Battery  Cameron,  while 
further  to  the  east,  between  the  camp  of  the  Zouaves  (which  was  north 
east  of  Camp  Seward),  and  the  water's  edge,  was  Battery  Lincoln  —  all 
mounting  guns  capable  of  doing  fearful  damage  to  the  rebel  works  across 
the  channel."  Hall,  A  Record  of  the  75th  N.  Y.  Volimteers.  In  Cayuga 
in  the  Field,  p.  26. 

83  W.  Babcock  to  Harry  Wells  (?),  Santa  Eosa  island,  Florida,  March 
13,  1862. 

«4 «  The  rebels  have  fortified  no  place  unless  it  may  be  Manassas  Gap, — 
not  even  Norfolk,  with  the  care  and  labor  with  which  they  have  hedged 
up  the  entrance  to  Pensacola  Harbor.  From  6,000  to  10,000  men  have 
beleaguered  Fort  Pickens,  and  fortified  themselves,  for  eight  or  nine  months 
in  a  position  where  nature  has  done  much  for  them.  Impenetrable  thickets, 
morasses,  and  bayous,  defend  their  rear,  and  guns  and  batteries  line  the 
road  to  Pensacola.  Now  after  sparing  the  great  Bragg  to  the  defense  of 
Mobile,  with  six  or  seven  regiments,  there  are  still  some  3,000  or  4,000 
men  opposed  to  us.  These  men  are  not  over  anxious  to  fight,  but  are 
comparatively  well-fed  and  well  clothed  —  many  of  them  armed  with  the 
most  improved  rifled  musket."  Ibid. 


CAMPS   AND   FORTIFICATIONS  37 

the  Confederate  bombardment  had  been  ineffective,  and  the  return 
fire  had  done  serious  damage  to  the  Rebel  works  a  mile  and  a  half 
distant  across  the  channel.  On  two  other  occasions  a  bombard 
ment  of  the  respective  fortifications  was  commenced,  but  each 
time  the  powerful  guns  and  mortars  of  Fort  Pickens,  well  sup 
ported  by  the  shore  batteries,  silenced  and  seriously  damaged 
the  Rebel  batteries,  and  for  several  months  no  shots  were  fired. 

Port  Hudson,  Louisiana,  was  located  on  a  high  bluff  command 
ing  the  Mississippi  river,  and  offered  great  opportunities  to  the 
Confederates  as  a  fortress.  Heavy  woods  and  deep  ravines  made 
approach  difficult  and  defense  easy  since  natural  obstructions 
existed  in  profusion.  Lines  of  rifle  pits  were  dug  and  batteries 
planted  behind  them  to  command  the  few  existing  points  of  attack, 
through  the  ravines  and  gullies.  Heavy  guns,  also,  were  placed 
in  positions  on  the  river  front  which  enabled  the  defenders  to 
control  a  wide  stretch  of  the  Mississippi.  The  accompanying 
views  reproduced  from  photographs  taken  within  a  day  or  two 
after  the  surrender  of  Port  Hudson  on  July  9,  1863,  furnish  a 
better  idea  of  the  nature  of  the  fortifications  and  the  injury  they 
sustained  from  the  fire  of  the  Union  siege  guns  than  any  verbal 
description.  The  comments  beneath  each  picture  are  those  jotted 
down  at  the  time  by  Colonel  Babcock,  on  the  back  of  each 
photograph. 


CHAPTER  III 

COMMISSARY 

Napoleon  said,  "An  army  marches  on  its  stomach/'  and  the 
problem  of  supplying  the  army  with  food  was  one  of  the  greatest 
to  be  solved  by  the  commanding  officers  of  the  Union  army  during 
the  Civil  War.  Transportation  facilities  and  depots  for  concen 
trating  supplies  had  to  be  provided  at  once  on  the  outbreak  of 
the  struggle,  and  maintained  in  order  for  effective  use  throughout 
long  and  difficult  campaigns. 

New  York  State  was  one  c-f  the  first  to  respond  to  the  call  for 
volunteers,  and  her  troops  began  to  move  toward  Albany  within 
a  few  days  after  President  Lincoln's  first  proclamation  of  April 
15,  1861,  calling  for  seventy-five  thousand  men  to  serve  for 
3  months.  She  was  poorly  equipped  to  handle  the  large  body  of 
men  who  soon  assembled,  however,  and  much  discontent  and  incon 
venience  ensued.  "  I  had  no  stomach  for  the  food,  and  many  of 
the  poor  fellows,  Fred  Pinney,  L'Amoreaux,  Peck  and  others  ate 
little  or  nothing.  The  dinner  was  a  vegetable  soup,  then  each  a 
plate  full  of  beef  and  potatoes  boiled  into  a  kind  a  mixture. 
There  wa,s  good  bread,  and  the  usual  trimmings  —  Xo  dessert  or 
butter'9 1 

The  company  mess  was  formed  and  put  into  operation  after  the 
army  took  the  field,  and  might  or  might  not  include  the  company 
officers.  "  We  have  two  cooks  and  a  steward  in  the  Company  who 
serve  one  week.  They  draw  the  provisions  for  the  Company 
daily  at  10  A.  M.  and  do  the  cooking.  The  food  consists  of  fresh 
and  salt  beef,  bacon,  beans,  rice  and  pilot  bread,  with  salt,  vine^- 
gar,  coffee  and  isugar.  The  coffee  is  made  for  breakfast  and  sup 
per  not  strong  of  course,  and  sweetened  a  little  in  the  large 
kettle  ....  Yesterday  noon  I  was  so  ravenously  hungry  that, 
although  when  about  half  through  a  dinner  of  bean  soup  I  dis 
covered  the  beans  to  be  full  of  worms,  I  kept  right  on  and  finished 
my  dinner,  swallowing  more  or  less  worms  at  every  mouthful. 
Today  however,  I  left  my  beans  and  dined  on  bread  and  salt 
pork."  2 

1  Albany,   N.   Y.,   April   28,    1861. 

"The  men  had  a  mutiny  at  teatime  last  night  and  went  in  a  hody,  with 
Capt.  Catlin  at  their  head,  to  Stamvix  Hall  for  supper.  They  could  not 
get  in  there,  but  the  Captain  is  threatening  to  go  home  if  the  food  is  not, 
hotter."  Ibid.,  Monday,  April  20,  1861.  (Letter  begun  April  28th.) 

2  Cam])    Hamilton,    Ya.,    June    lo,    1861.       (Letter    begun    June    14th.) 

[38] 


COMMISSARY  39 

Near  the  seacoast  the  men  eked  out  their  scanty  rations  3  with 
oysters  and  dams  which  they  procured  in  large  quantities.4  Forag 
ing  at  this  period  of  the  war  was  not  permitted,  but  the  eyes  of 
the  officers  in  command  were  closed  to  the  killing  of  a  few  stray 
cattle  and  chickens  wThich  might  happen  to  venture  near  the 
Union  lines.  When  the  men  had  money  they  purchased  pies, 
"akes,  pickled  oysters,  and  other  delicacies  from  the  negroes 
living  near  the  camp,  who  drew  quite  a  revenue  from  such 
sales.5  As  the  wax  went  on,  however,  the  rules  concerning 
plundering  were  relaxed,  and  foraging  became  the  regular  method 
•4'  filling  out  the  marching  ration.  "  The  march  was  attended 
with  the  usual  amount  of  foraging,  and  many  a  mess  that  night 
was  supplied  with  every  variety  of  barnyard  game.  One  woman 
became  so  frantic  with  the  loss  of  her  chickens  that  she  fell  €<n  her 
knees,  and  with  clasped  hands  and  upturned  eyes,  implored  the 
Divine  Mercy  upon  the  godless  wretches  who  were  devastating 
her  hen  roost."6  A  herd  of  cattle  was  a  fine  prize  for  a  hungry 
army  to  come  upon,  and  short  w~as  its  shrift.7  'Green  corn  and 
fruit  also  helped  materially  in  preventing  discontent  on  account 
of  short  rations  tardily  issued.8  When  the  army  was  moving 
rapidly  the  men  were  required  to  keep  several  days'  rations  in 
their  haversacks,  in  order  that  a  shortage  might  not  occur  when 
the  supply  trains  did  not  keep  up  with  the  force.  "  We  are 
required  to  keep  three  days  rations  on  hand  constantly,  and 
orders  announce  that  these  may  be  required  to  last  4  days.  Some 
times  three  days  rations  have  been  ordered  to  last  5  days.  Th° 
boys  call  this  '  living  on  orders  '.  It  makes  some  growling,  but 
not  a  great  deal  of  necessary  suffering  in  a  country  where  there 
;iro  so  many  cattle." 

3"I  am  nearly  sick  today.  This  everlasting  ffbo-rt  commons  is  too  much 
for  me.  It  keeps  me  petulant  ami  rross  all  the  time.  T  eould  bite  off  a 
tfMi  penny  nail  this  morning.  Our  fond  is  very  <roorl  no\v-a-days,  "barring 
the  entire  absence  of  fruit  and  vegetables.  The  desiccated  vegetables  fur- 
!•  i>~hed  are  a  very  poor  substitute  for  the  genuine  article."  Camp  Ham 
ilton.  Va..  July  11,  1861. 

4  Ibid,,  June' 6.   1861. 

r'Tbid.,    June    In,    1801.       (Letter   beinin    June    14th.) 

6  Clipping  from  The  Xeic  Orleans  Era  of  April  20.  1863,  containing  an 
unsigned  letter  to  the  Era  dated  April  17,  1863,  from  the  field. 

7Opelousas,   La.,   April   20,    1863. 

8 "  We  staid  down  in  the  woods  in  the  shade  all  day,  skirmishing  at 
long  range  with  the  enemy,  and  foraging  for  apples,  corn  and  beef  and 
pork,  having  a  regular  picnic/'  Halltown,  Va..  August  23.  1S64. 

"  Tt  is  a  perpetual  green  corn  dance  for  the  army  here.  The  men  rely  on 
it  greatly  to  eke  out  the  scanty  marching  ration."  Ibid.,  August  27,  1864. 

•Near  Charleatown,   Va..   September   2,   1804. 

"On  Tuesday  the  four  days'  rations  with  which  they  [the  men.]  started 
from  Charlestown  gave  out,  and  only  half  days  rations  was  issued  for 


40  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  BABCOCK 

Officers  had  their  choice  of  several  kinds  of  mess  arrangements. 
"  I  have  my  allowance  brought  to  me  at  my  tent  from  the  com 
pany  mess  and  eat  it  alone.  Some  of  the  officers  take  their  meals 
with  an  old  darkey  called  '  Tony '  at  from  2/—  to  4/-  a  meal. 
Others  have  a  mess  chest  (containing  all  sorts  of  cooking  con 
veniences  and  dishes-  to  eat  upon)  and  have  their  meals  prepared 
hy  their  servants."  10 

A  few  days  later,  however,  Lieutenant  Babcock  joined  one  of 
these  "  mess  "  groups,  and  found  the  eating  arrangements  much 
better.  "  Oatlin  [captain  of  Company  H,  Third  New  York] 
and  I,  with  several  others  have  formed  a  '  mess '  now,  and  we 
have  regular  meals.  Eight  of  us  go  even  shares,  pay  expenses 
and  eat  in  one  of  the  vacant  recitation  rooms  of  the  Chesapeake 
Fern.  Seminary.  The  delicate  figures  of  the  young  ladies  are  still 
on  the  blackboard  where  they  put  them  at  the  last  recitation.  But 
tlii s  in  no  way  affects  our  enjoyment  of  the  meals  there.  We  have 
good  coffee,  bread  &  butter  tea.  at  night,  and  steak  or  ham.  I 
commenced  yesterday  morning.  It  will  cost  me  about  2«0/  to  24/ 
per  week,  and  T  shall  find  it  for  my  health  as  well  as  for  my 
comfort."  "  We  have  just  dined  sumptuously  for  soldiers.  We 
had  soup,  roast  beef,  baked  ham,  baked  and  mashed  potatoes, 
beets  and  tomatoes  and  boiled  corn.  For  dessert  we  had  whortle 
berries  and  ice  cream.  We  all  mess  together  or  rather  board 
with  a  Mr.  Alford,  brother  of  €ol.  Aflford  of  the  Third  New 
York]  who  is  our  regimental  sutler.  We  have  good  wholesome 
food  at  regular  hours,  and  as  you  see,  get  some  luxuries." 

This  system  was  evidently  far  metre  satisfactory,  although 
more  expensive,13  than  the  allowance  arrangement  from  the  com 
pany  mess,  for  an  officers'  mess  was  formed  in  New  York  before 
the  Seventy-fifth  sailed  for  Santa  Rosa  island.  A  cook  and  \\ 
large  store  of  provisions  were  taken  with  them  on  the  transport 
to  Florida.14  "  Our  Mess  is  very  pleasant.  It  is  made  up  of  the 


Wednesday.  And  it  was  afternoon  on  Thursday  before  any  more  was 
issued.  I  expected  a  good  deal  of  noise  and  ill-feeling,  but  the  only 
demonstration  was  an  occasional  shout  of  'Hard  Tack,'  from  some  of  the 
companies,  and  this  was  checked  by  a  single  word."  Near  Berryville,  Va., 
September  ft,  1864. 

10  Camp  Hamilton,  Va.,  June   14,   1861.     Ibid.,  July  20,  1861. 

nj&td.,  July  22,   1861.      (Letter  begun   July  21st.) 

12  Fort  McHenry,  Baltimore,  August  4,  1861.      (Letter  begun  August  3d.) 

a:{"0n  Tuesday  I  shall  owe  for  two  weeks  board,  [with  the  sutler] 
about  $7.00."  Ibid.,  October  18,  1861. 

14  On  board  Steamer  Baltic,  December  10,  1861.  (Letter  begun  Decem 
ber  6th.) 


COMMISSARY  41 

Col.,  Lt.  Col.,  Major,  Chaplain,  Quarter  Master,  Adjutant,  ami 
Col.'s  clerk.  The  Doctors  are  Vi  niile  away  and  eat  at  the  Hos 
pital.  \Ve  liavo  a  good  *  plain  cook  '  whom  we  hire  by  the  month 
end  who  gets  up  superb  meals  —  plain  but  excellent.  We  had 
at  dinner  yesterday,  soup,  baked  beans,  roast  beef,  mashed  pota 
toes,  coffee  with  milk  and  sugar,  and  warm  biscuits,  all  not  only 
good  but  excellent  in  quality.  For  tea  we  had  biscuit  and  butter 
and  apple  sauce,  cold  ham  &  cold  beef  with  coffee.  This  morning- 
we  had  beefsteak,  mashed  potatoes,  warm  biscuits  etc.  At  noon 
today  we  had  nice  apple  pie  of  home  manufacture.  All  our  pro 
visions  are  neatly  prepared  and  look  as  well  as  they  taste,  so  that 
we  fare  not  only  well  but  sumptuously.  We  have  good  butter, 
lard,  and  prepared  milk  which  is  good.  Our  servants  eat  of  the 
same  after  us,  so  that  they  fare  well  too."  15 

Expenses  were  rather  heavy  in  operating  such  a  mess,16  although 
the  officers  were  allowed  to  buy  what  they  wanted  of  the  com 
missary  or  quartermaster  department,  at  cost.  "  Were  it  not 
for  an  equitable  regulation  which  allows  officers  to  purchase  any- 
lliing  to  eat  or  wear  which  can  be  found  in  the  Commissary  or 
quartermaster  department,  at  cost,  it  would  be  hard  to  live  on 
Santa  Kosa.  But  we  buy  bread,  beef,  bacon,  dried  apples,  dried 
peaches,  vinegar,  candles,  sugar,  coffee,  tea,  molasses,  and  even 
whiskey  as  cheap,  &  often  cheaper,  than  we  could  in  a  grocery 
store  at  home.  We  can  even  get  mosketo  bars  of  Uncle  S'am 
here."  17  "  Yesterday  we  had  an  amusing  time  in  scraping  up 
money  enough  to  pay  our  monthly  bills  for  beef,  fruit,  tomatoes, 
pickles  etc.  at  the  Fort  [Pickens].  We  buy  through  the  month 
on  credit,  and  at  the  end  of  the  month  the  bills  must  be  met. 
The  officers  in  this  Regt.  brought  a  good  deal  of  money,  but  they 
are  nearly  drained  now.  Their  bills  are  all  paid  for  Jan.,  but  if 
the  paymaster  doesn't  come  soon  enough,  the  February  bills  will 
have  to  go.  Col.  Dodge  of  course  has  money  but  he  keeps  it.  I 
have  paid  well  up  now  but  am  just  out.  I  am  owing  for  supplies 
now  some  thirty  dollars  ($30)  or  forty  dollars  ($40),  I  presume, 
but  the  bills  have  not  been  presented." 

A  smaller  group  formed  a  mess  during  the  Virginia  campaign 
of  1864.  "  The  Adjutant,  Maj.  Thurber  and  myself  mess  to 
gether,  and  have  Dan  Hutchinson  of  'Co.  F.  to  cook  for  us.  He 

15  Santa  Rosa   island,  Fla.,  December  20,   1861. 

1676iU,   January   27,    1862.       (Letter   begun    January   23d.) 

17  Ibid. 

18  Ibid.,   February   5,    1862.      (Letter  begun    January   31st.) 


42  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  BABCOCK 

i  ;i  saloon  cook,  and  is  the  best  field  cook  we  ever  had.  His 
failing  is  drink,  bur  here  it  don't  alfivt  him.  \Ve  left  camp  the 
other  day  expecting  to  have  our  wagons  follow  us  into  bivouac 
at  night.  But  when  we  found  ourselves  without  it,  our  saddle- 
luigs  yielded  us,  for  dinner,  hard  tack  and  ham,  apple  sauce,  and 
coifee  with  sugar  and  milk.  For  supper  we  had  hard  tack  and 
hum,  apple  sauce  and  coffee  with  sugar  and  milk.  At  the  next 
breakfast,  there  was  nice  fried  liver,  toasted  hard  tack,  and  lob- 
scouae.19  Today,  before  our  wagons  came  we  had  plenty  of  fresh 
meat,  soft  bread  from  Harper's  Ferry,  applesauce,  coffee  with 
milk,  cheese,  ginger  cakes  from  the  sutler's  wagon,  and  desiccated 
potatoes,  which  last  are  most  excellent.  Our  cook  prepares  all 
these  promptly,  and  we  cannot  complain.  Few  officers,  I  think, 
live  as  well.  \Ve  make  it  somewhat  a  study.  Yet,  we  live  very 
cheaply."  " 

Even  these  elaborate  eating  arrangements  grew  tiresome  at 
limes,  however,  and  the  officers  purchased  meals  at  private  houses 
near  the  camps.  Often,  also,  it  was  not  possible  to  return  to  the 
encampment  for  meals  and  little  groups  of  officers  engaged  meals 
with  the  people  of  the  vicinity.  On  going  out  on  picket  duty, 
"  ^Ye  brought  one  day's  rations  and  while  I  posted  my  guard  the 
cooks  went  at  the  dinner.  I  had  a  mind  to  have  a  '  good  full 
dinner ?  and  went  to  a  house  near  where  I  bespoke  a  broiled 
chicken.  At  dinner  time  I  went  over  and  ate  broiled  chicken, 
cold  ham,  new  potatoes,  hoecake,  two  glasses  of  milk,  and  a  nice 
large  dish  of  raspberries  and  cream.  After  dinner  I  had  a 
lemonade  and  bought  and  ate  a  quart  of  blackberries.  For  tea  I 
had  nice  fish,  apple  preserves,  fresh  bread  and  butter,  coffee  with 
milk  and  sugar,  and  a  glass  of  milk."  2l 

"  I  supped  last  night  on  a  piece  of  boiled  beef  and  a  cracker 
taken  in  my  fingers,  and  I  wanted  something  else  for  breakfast. 
So  Lt,  Mann  and  I  went  about  three-quarters  of  a  mile  to  the 
farm  of  Ool.  Jones,  an  '  F.  F.  YV  who  gathered  up  his  goods  and 

19  Lobscouse   is    a    sailor's   dish    consisting   of    salt    incut   stewed    or   baked 
with   vegetables.      Funk    and   YVagnall's    \cir   X1<t<nhir<l   Diclim/ari/. 

20  Near   Charlestown,   Va.,   August    31,    18C4. 

"  For  our  mess,  we  get  plenty  of  fresh  meat  of  which  we  have  steak 
and  stews,  flour  of  which  we  make  biscuits,  sweet  and  not,  pancakes, 
gravies,  etc.  Hard  tack  goes  in  the  soups  and  sometimes  in  the  pancakes, 
we  get  Irish  potatoes  fresh,  and  plenty  of  desiccated  potatoes,  ham,  con 
densed  milk,  and  even  a  little  butter  at  a  dollar  for  a  can  about  the  size 
of  the  condensed  milk  cans.  Cheese  also  at  fifty  cents  a  pound.  I  think 
we  live  well  enough."  Near  Berryville,  Va.,  September  13,  1804. 

21  Mill   Creek  near  Old   Point   Comfort,  June  22,    1801. 


COMMISSARY 


43 


his  negroes  and  departed  for  Secessia  on  the  advent  of  the  troops 
lure.  One  family  of  his  slaves  remains,  and  we  went  in  and 
eaught  them  at  breakfast.  \\V  asked  them  what  they  could  get 
for  us.  The  old"  lady  sd  [said]  she  thought  ishe  could  get  us  up 
a  'short  hoe  cake'  (a  kind  of  mixture  of  lard  and  flour  baked 
in  a  spider  before  the  fire),  some  i  hog  fish '  and  tea  with  butter. 
S<  we  begged  her  to  go  on  while  we  looked  about  and  quizzed  her 
and  hers  about  their  history  etc.  .  .  .  This  couple  live  on  the 
faun  and  use  its  products  as  they  like.  .  .  .  Our  i  short  hoe  cake  ' 
at  last  got  done  and  we  sat  down.  The  bill  of  fare  was  fish,  cold 
Johnny  cake,  short-hoe-cake,  three  eggs  for  two,  butter  and  tea. 
I  was  hungry,  and  although  the  short  cake  was  heavy  indigestible 
stuff  and  tasted  much  of  lard,  I  ate  heartily.  The  tea  was  very 
good  though  clear.  When  we  got  through  I  got  up  and  told  them 
we  hadn't  either  of  us  a  cent  to  pay  them.  This  took  them  some 
what  aback,  but  as  I  assured  them  we  were  not  imposing  upon 
tlu-m  and  would  pay  them  the  next  time  we  came  down  on  picket, 
they  professed  themselves  satisfied.  But  I  have  no  doubt  they 
inwardly  set  down  that  breakfast,  got  up  with  care  and  pains  out 
of  their  scanty  stores,  in  their  account  of  i  Profit  and  Loss  '.  .  .  . 
Luckily  a  $10  bill  from  father  came  to-day  and  I  shall  see  the 
old  folks  paid  soon."  22 

By  these  various  means,  the  officers  and  men  strove  to  vary  the 
monotony  and  paucity  of  .army  fare  and  lighten  the  hardships  of 
campaigning. 

22  Camp  Hamilton,  Va.,  July  20,   1801. 


CHAPTER  IV 

CAMP  LIFE 

ROUTINE 

The  sharp  roll  of  the  reveille  was  beaten  hy  the  drummers  at 
daybreak  each  morning,  at  an  hour  varying  from  4.30  to  5.30  1 
according  to  circumstances.  Sometimes,  however,  it  was  sounded 
as  early  as  1.30  or  2.00  a.  m.2  under  the  stress  of  campaigning  or 
danger  of  a  sudden  daybreak  attack  by  the  rebels.  During  Sheri 
dan's  campaign  of  August  and  September  1864,  in  the  Shenan- 
doah  valley,  orders  were  regularly  issued  that  the  men  should 
stand  to  arms  from  before  dawn,  until  after  sunrise,3  to  prevent 
the  possibility  of  a  surprise  attack  on  the  camps.  Roll  call  ensued,4 
and  after  the  reports  of  the  sergeants  to  the  officers  in  charge  of 
the  companies,  the  men  were  given  the  next  half  hour  for  making 
their  toilets  and  cleaning  up  camp.5  A  strenuous  drill  in  com 
pany  or  battalion  formation  occupied  the  next  two  hours,6  when 
the:  men  were  quite  ready  for  the  coarse  but  hearty  breakfast 
which  was  served  between  7  and  8  o'clock.7 

"At  %  past  8  the  sick  go  to  the  Surgeon  "  for  sick  detail 8  and 
treatment.  About  9  o'clock  a  new  detail  of  troops  went  on  duty 
as  sentinels,9  both  pickets  10  and  inner  camp  guards  n  to  relieve  the 
force  which  had  been  under  arms  on  such  service  for  the  preceding 
24  hours.  Dress  parade  lasting  "  half  an  hour  or  so"  came  at  10 
and  then  the  weary  men  were  given  their  leisure  until  5  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon.12  Later  on,  however,  the  need  of  more  drill  was 
shown  and  the  hours  for  recreation  were  shortened.  Drill  in. 


1  Albany   Barracks,   Albany,   N.   Y.,   May   5,.   1861. 
Camp  Hamilton,  near  Hampton,  Va.,  June  8,  1861. 

2  Tennallytown,   D.   C.,   August   13,    1864. 

3  Near   Berry ville,  Va.,   September   6,   1864. 

4  Fort  McHenry,   Baltimore,   August   10,   1801. 

Glbid.,  October  16,   1861.      (Letter  begun  October   12th.) 
«  Ilrid. 

7  Camp   Hamilton,  Va.,  June  20,   1861.      (Letter  begun   June   18th.) 

8  Camp    Hamilton,    Hampton,    Va.,    June    20,    1861.       (Letter    begun    June 
18th.) 

9 Ibid.,  July  3,   1861.      (Letter  begun  July  2d.) 

10  The   picket  guards   were   posted  at  various   points   at  distances   of  one 
to   two  miles   from   camp,  forming  a   cordon   around   the  main  encampment 
to  prevent  surprise.     Companies  were  detailed  each  24  hours  at  each  post. 

11  The  guards  for  the  camp  formed  an  inner  line  about  the  position   but. 
were    used    chiefly    as    police    for    the    encampment   under    command    of    the 
"  Officer  of  the  guard." 

12  Tump   Hamilton,   Va.,   June   20.    1861.      (Letter   begun    June    18th.) 

[441 


CAMP   LIFE  45 

various  formations,  company,  battalion  and  regimental,  occupied 
the  time  from  5  until  7  or  later.  Dinner  at  noon,  and  supper 
at  4.30  p.  in.  with  tattoo  and  taps  at  9.30,13  completed  the  regular 
day  of  the  soldier  while  in  a  more  or  less  permanent  camp. 
Officers  were  further  required  to  put  in  extra  time  in  special 
drill,  and  officers'  school  in  the  evenings.  Much  routine  work 
was  required  of  them,  also,  in  the  issuing  of  passes,  making  out 
of  muster  and  pay  rolls,  and  keeping  of  regimental  and  company 
records.14 

On  Sundays  inspection  15  by  companies  and  regiments  broke  the 
monotonous  course  of  daily  work,  and  when  a  chaplain  was  with 
the  regiment,  as  was  often  the  case,  services  were  held  in  camp 
morning  or  evening.16  Sometimes  the  force  was  drawn  up  on  the 
parade  ground  and  one  service  was  held  for  the  entire  body  of 
men,  while  on  other  occasions  each  chaplain  held  services  for  the 
men  of  his  own  regiment.17 

When  the  Civil  War  broke  out  in  April  1861,  the  regular 
army  of  the  United  States  numbered  Ixjtween  thirteen  thousand  18 
and  twenty  thousand  men19  scattered  all  over  the  country  in 
various  posts  and  more  or  less  disorganized  by  resignations  of 
officers  who  were  southern  sympathizers.  Each  state,  of  course, 
maintained  regiments  of  militia,  which  had  a  certain  amount  of 
military  training  and  could  be  relied  upon  for  a  limited  number 
of  partially  trained  men  available  for  use  as  officers  for  volunteer 
regiments,  but  the  North  was  forced  to  rely  almost  wholly  on 

13 /&«/.,   July   21,    1861. 

14  Fort  McHenry,  Baltimore,  October  16,  1861.  (Letter  begun  October 
12th.) 

13  Ibid.,  October  27,   1861. 

16  "At  nine  o'clock  all  the  companies,  some  20  in  all,  gathered  under  the 
command    of    their    respective    officers,    in    front    of    our    building,    on    the 
parade  ground,   in   presence  of  thousands,   where   in   the  beautiful   sunlight, 
under    the    open    heavens,    morning   prayers   were   had.      The    exercises    were 
solemn  and  impressive.     The  Rev.  Dr.  Rogers,  mounted  on  a  cannon,  read  a 
psalm,    led    the   voices    in    singing   Old    Hundred,    and    after    a    few    earnest 
remarks,   offered  up  a   prayer.     The  dear  ones   at  home  were     .     .     .     first 
affectionately  remembered  in   such  terms  as  brought  tears  to  many  an  eye, 
the    country,    the   president,    the   good   cause,    the   soldiers,   the    officers,   and 
all  were  prayed  for  in  such  a  simple  earnest  way  that  every  heart  joined 
in    the    petitions."      Albany    Barracks,   N.    Y.,    May    5,    1861. 

17  Santa  Rosa  island,   Fla.,   December  22,    1861.      (Letter  begun  December 
20th.) 

18  The  report  of  the  Secretary  of  War  on  June  30,  1860,  shows  12,9cS4  men 
in   the   regular  army.     Senate  Documents,  2d   Session   36th   Congress    (1860- 
61),   2:298,   No.    1.  ' 

19  On  December   1,  1861,  the  estimated  total  of  men   in  the  regular  army 
of  the  United   States  was  20,334.     Senate  Executive  Documents,   2d  Session 
37th  Congress,    (1861-1S62),  2:4,  No.  1.     Report  of  Secretary  of  War. 


46  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  BABCOCK 

volunteer  forces  called  into  service  by  the  proclamation  of  April 
15,  1861.  These  men  were  entirely  untrained  in  army  maneuvers 
and  required  much  drilling  before  they  were  an  effective  force. 
The  elective  officer  system  also  hampered  the  quick  formation 
of  an  efficient  army,  since  in  many  cases  the  officers  chosen  knew 
no  more  of  company  and  battalion  movement  than  the  men  in  the 
ranks.  Their  one  idea  was  to  fight  and  defeat  the  enemy  as  soon 
as  possible,  and  the  Battle  of  Bull  Run  or  Manassas  showed  the 
result. 

"  Our  Oapt.  don't  know  anything  and  won't  learn  nor  try 
seriously  to  learn.  He  keeps  out  of  the  way  and  leaves  me  to 
attend  to  all  the  details  of  business.  We  came  here  24  hours  ago 
and  have  paid  no  attention  yet  to  the  orders  in  relation  to  roll- 
calls,  parades,  or  anything  of  the  sort.  I  suppose  this  p.  m.  at 
5  o'clock  I  shall  muster  the  company  and  command  them  at 
'  full  dress  parade'  as  it  is  called."  "  Capt.  Catlin  is  not  doing 
much  in  the  way  of  posting  himself  in  military  tactics.  He  con 
ducts  the  men  to  and  from  dinner  or  supper  with  some  grace  and 
propriety,  but  so  far  as  drilling  is  concerned,  he  does  nothing. 
I  am  working  at  it  some  and  learning  a  little." 

Only  a  comparatively  short  time  elapsed  between  the  date  when 
Company  H  was  first  organized,  April  18th,  and  June  6th,  when 
it  arrived  in  a  hostile  country  and  encamped  near  Hampton,  Va. 
Drilling  was  almost  continuous  during  this  period  22  and  the  men 
learned  to  move  in  company  and  battalion  formation  fairly  well, 
but  the  time  was  too  short  to  put  them  into  good  shape  for  service 
"  My  greatest  anxiety  now  is  about  the  drill  of  our  men  'who 
need  a  month's  steady  labor.  If  our  company  were  not  good 
willing,  faithful  fellows,  we  should  be  far  behind  the  rest  of  the 
Regiment  but  as  it  is  we  hold  our  own  very  well."  "  I  have 
been  up  and  <at  work  2  hours  and  a  half  this  morning  drilling 
our  men."  24 

Gradually  the  hours  devoted  to  military  training  were  length 
ened  and  the  leisure  hours  curtailed,  for  "  it  is  Col.  Alford's 
ambition  to  get  up  a  regiment  fit  for  fine  parades.  He  was  over 
heard  by  Henry  Jewett  to  say  last  night  that  he  was  going  to  stay 
here  and  fill  up  to  900  men,  and  then  train  them  until  they 


20  Albany,  N.  Y..  April   20,   ]Sf>l.      (Loiter  begun  April  2Slh.) 

21  Ibid.,  'May  8,   ISfil. 

22  New  York  City,  May  21,  18(il. 

23 Hampton,  Va.,'  Juno'  11,   1861.      (Letter  begun   June  10th.) 
"*Ibid.,  June  20,  1861.      (Letter  becfun  June  18th.) 


CAMP   LIFE  *« 

should  be  the  Ix-st  drilled  regiment,  in  the  service.  I  do  not 
believe*  we  can  be  beaten  now.""5  Reviews  were  held  very  fre 
quent  lv  bef<»rc  the  commanding  officers  of  the  force  and  parades 
were  a  daily  occurrence.  "At  4%  o'clock  (yesterday)  we  mus 
tered  for  Review  and  marched  a  mile  or  so  down  towards  the 
Fort  where  Gen.  Butler  reviewed  us.  It  was  a  fine  display  for 
the  Glorious  Fc-urth  on  the  Old  \7irginia  soil,  and  at  its  close 
the  three  Regiments  closed  in  mass  and  «".en.  Butler  made  a  most 
beautiful  though  brief  oration.  lie  made  a  mo.*t  appropriate 
allusion  to  the  peculiar  circumstances  of  our  gathering  and 
exhorted  us  nobly  to  our  duty  to  friend  and  foes.  The  whole 
Review  was  very  pleasant."  M  "  There  are  four  parades  daily  at 
which  one  must  be,  three  of  them  drills  of  near  two  hours  each." 

Life  was  not  so  regular,  however,  on  the  march  in  the  course 
of  a  campaign.  The  reveille  might  be  sounded  at  any  hour,  and 
movement  of  the  troops  begun  without  time  for  getting  breakfast.28 
AVith  a  shoit  halt  for  dinner  of  coffee  and  hardtack  supplied  from 
the  haversacks,  the  march  would  be  continued,  often  till  long 
after  dark,  when  bivouac  had  to  be  hastily  made  and  supper  pre 
pared  as  late  as  10  or  11  p.  m.29  At  any  time  might  come  the 
order  which  would  send  them  out  in  battle  line  with  slight  warn 
ing,  for  attack  or  defense.  On  the  advance,  constant  vigilance 
was  necessary,  with  a  resulting  heavy  strain  011  the  nerves  of 
officers  and  men.  Such  then  was  the  routine  of  a  soldier,  more  or 
less  monotonous  while  in  permanent  camp,  but  uncertain  and 
nerve-racking  during  campaigns. 

PICKET    AND    GUARD    DUTY 

Two  sets  of  guards  were-  used  to  protect  an  encampment  from 
n  surprise  attack,  the  pickets  who  were  stationed  at  some  distance 
out  from  the  camp,30  and  the  guard  which  formed  an  inner  line 
about  the  position.  "  I  can  write  but  a  little  to  you  and  under 
the  most  annoying  circumstances.  At  this  moment  I  am  sitting  on 
(lie  ground  in  front  of  the  guard  tent,  in  the  front  line  of  our 
camp.  .  .  .  Our  sleeping  soldiery  are  now  in  my  care,  as 

- '  Fort  McHenry.  Baltimore,  October  12,  1861. 

26  Cani]>  Hamilton,  Va.,  July  5,'  1861.      (Letter  begun  July  4th.) 

27  Fort   Me  Henry,   Baltimore',  October   12,   1861. 

-"Near  Snicker's  Gap,  Va.,  August  19,  1864.     Letter  begun  August  17th.) 
-''Near   Charlcstown,  Va.,   September   4,    1K64.      (Letter   begun   September 
2d.) 

30  Near  Hampton,  Va.,  June  7,  1861.      (Letter  begun  June  6th.) 


LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  BABCOCK 

officer  of  the  guard,  and  I  am  writing  to  keep  my  eyes  open.  .  .  . 
I  have  just  been  out  quite  around  our  camp,  walking  near  a  mile 
and  a  half  of  walking  in  the  night  over  all  sorts  of  things  [ —  ?] 
[seeing]  how  our  sentinels  watch  their  posts.  I  found  them  all 
right  and  have  come  back  to  the  guard  tent  to  rest  my  limbs  a 
little  but  I  cannot  go  to  sleep  a  moment  until  nine  o'clock 
tomorrow.  .  .  .  You  do  not  know  how  tired  I  am.  It  does  seem 
as  if  I  could  not  sit  up,  and  as  I  write  here  (it  is  now  the  gray 
li^-lit  of  morning  about  half  past  4  o'clock)  my  eyes  will  shut  and 
blur  and  my  head  nod  against  my  will."  31 

"  It  takes  100  men  daily  to  guard  our  camp,  and  would  take  no 
more  if  we  had  1,500  men  in  it.  The  guard  do  not  sleep  for  24 
hours,  and  are  changed  at  4  p.  m.  every  day.  Where  1/3  of  our 
men  are  sick,  and  a  new  detail  of  140  men  (40  for  picket  guard) 
have  to  be  detailed  every  day,  it  is  not  a  long  job  to  wear  the 
well  ones  down."  Regiments  were  detailed  in  turn  for  picket 
duty  for  24  hours  and  platoons  or  companies  posted  at  different 
points.  "  I  have  seated  myself  on  an  old  box  at  half  past 
eleven  this  beautiful  night  ...  to  write  to  you.  .  .  .  My  face 
is  turned  toward  the  Southeast- ward  towards  (  Old  Point '  on 
which  lies  Fortress  Monroe,  its  walls  in  grand  relief  against 
the  sky,  keeping  watch  and  ward  for  us  all." 

"  Behind  me,  and  on  either  hand  are  plantations,  farm  houses 
and  negro  huts,  some  deserted  and  some  occupied  as  ever. 

"  Near  mo  watches  a  faithful  sentry,  and  along  the  road 
behind  me  is  a  line  of  them  leading  back  nearly  to  camp.  Close 
by  me  are  two  or  three  -sleepers,  and  in  a  little  house  at  my  left 
are  a  dozen  more  of  your  friends  and  mine.  .  .  .  Off  at  my  right 
are  the  camps  of  our  friends,  and  at  my  left  is  the  enemy's 
country,  and  the  road  stretching  away  to  Yorktown. 

"  Our  Regiments  here  all  take  turns  in  doing  picket  duty  - 
that  is  in  keeping  guard   out   some  distance  beyond  the  lines. 
Today  it  came  to  the  3rd  Regiment  and  I  was  sent  with  twenty- 
three  men  to  hold  and  guard  '  Mill  Creek.'     We  came  down  here 
a  mile  and  a  half  or  so  from  Camp  and  relieved  the  old  guard  - 
(I  was  broken  off  then  by  a  sudden  discharge  of  fire-arms,  and  my 
sentinel  coming  down  the  road  on  a  run  crying,  '  Turn  out  the 
Guard.'     c  Turn  out  the  'Guard.'     The  fright  of  one  or  two  of 
them  was  ludicrous  to  see.      I  turned  out  the   Guard,   left   the 


81  Camp  Hamilton,  Va.,  June   12,   1861. 

June  19,  18(51,     (Letter  begun  June  18th.) 


CAMP    LIFE  49 


Sergeant  to  march  it  up  the  road  and  went  up  to  see  what  was 
the  cause  of  so  much  noise.  I  found  that  the  original  alarm 
was  not  at  my  post,  and  I  replaced  my  sentries,  and  sat  down  at 
the  farthest  outpost  to  see  what  would  follow.  After  being  nearly 
devoured  by  mosketoes  and  seeing  nothing,  I  came  in  and  con 
clude  my  sentence  by  saying — )  about  10  o'clock.  We  brought 
one  day's  rations  and  while  I  posted  my  guard,  the  cooks  went 
at  the  dinner."  33 

"  Every  four  nights  I  am  walking  lonely  roads,  and  by-paths 
in  these  interminable  labyrinthine  forests,  in  constant  peril  of 
life  and  limb  from  the  malice  of  enemies  or  the  stupidity  of 
friends.  .  .  . 

"  Yesterday  we  were  out  on  picket  duty  again.  We  had  the 
same  place  as  before,  though  a  new  bower,  and  spent  the  day  very 
pleasantly.  .  .  .  About  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening  I  was  lying 
down,  fighting  mosketoes  and  '  punkies '  54  when  we  heard  Crack ! 
Crack!  Crack!  from  the  rifles  of  our  sentries.  I  jumped  up,  took 
three  men  and  hurried  out  to  find  out  what  was  the  matter,  while 
Capt.  Jenny  in  command,  followed  with  the  guard.  We  pushed 
briskly  out,  keeping  a  sharp  lookout  for  signs  of  an  ambush 
(for  which  no  forests  in  the  world  are  better  adapted  than  these) 
and  finally  found  our  boys  who  had  seen  a  couple  of  men  approach 
ing  through  a  cornfield,  challenged  them  and  fired.  We  posted 
the  guards  anew,  cautioned  them  to  lock  sharp,  aim  low,  and  shoot 
to  kill,  and  went  back  and  lay  down.  But  you  have  no  idea  how 
the  mosketoes  and  (  punkies  '  did  bite.  I  was  as  if  on  a  gridiron 
and  got  little  or  no  sleep.  .  .  .  On  one  post  I  found  a  '  solitary 
horseman '  had  been  reconnoitering  our  pickets.  I  got  at  the 
truth  of  this  as  well  as  I  could  and  had  just  set  down  to  rest  (now 
3  o'clock  and  daybreak)  when  '  crack '  went  a  rifle  on  my  right. 
I  ran  down  to  the  post  and  found  the  poor  sentry  half  scared  to 
death — the  woods  were  all  alive  in  his  imagination.  But  he 
pretended  to  nave  seen  three  men  come  out  of  the  bushes  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  road  from  him  and  but  a  few  steps  from  him, 
whom  he  had  shot  at.  I  doubted  his  story,  but  put  a  trusty  man 
in  his  place  and  put  him  where  ho  would  be  safer.  Then  I  set  off 
to  post  men  so  as  to  surround  the  wood.  As  I  tramped  around 
through  the  solitary  paths  and  through  the  fields,  T  confess 


,33Mill  Creek  near  Ol.l  Point  Comfort,  Va.,  June  22,  ISO]. 
34"Pnnkies"  were   a   species  of   tiny   gnats.     Funk   and   Wagnall's   New 
Standard  Dictionary. 


50  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  BABCOCK 

1  was  a  little  afraid  of  a  sly  bullet,  to  stop  me,  ...  but  none 
came.  In  a  few  minutes  there  was  a  chain  around  the  woods,  but 
1  had  some  doubts  of  the  man's  story  of  the  three  men,  and  I 
decided  to  wait  until  daylight,  test  his  truthfulness,  and  shake  up 
the  bush.  At  daylight  we  made  a  careful  examination  and 
distinctly  saw  traces  of  men  in  the  hushes,  plain  boot  tracks.  *So 
I  thickened  my  guard  around  the  wood's,  got  a  squad  of  25  men, 
formed  a  line  clear  across  one  end  of  the  woods,  gave  the  word 
'  March  7  and  plunged  into  the  brush.  We  carefully  examined 
it  .  .  .  ,  and  came  out  on  the  other  end  in  about  one-half  an 
hour  very  wet  and  .somewhat  tired.  The  men  were  not  to  be 
found  and  had  got  out  somewhere,  which  was  not  strange,  as  the 
]>hve.  of  woods  they  were  in  was  surrounded  on  three  sides  by 
woods  separated  from  it  only  by  a  narrow  and  winding  road  of  a 
single  track's  width.35 

Firing  by  the  pickets  was  very  common,  and  wild  alarms  of  this 
sort  occurred  often.36  These  rifle  shots  did  serve  one  purpose, 
however,  that  of  showing  that  the  pickets  were  on  the  watch,  and 
keeping  track  of  any  movements  which  might  be  made.  One  of 
the  most  ludicrous  of  these  alarms  occurred  on  January  2'6,  1862, 
during  the  time  the  Seventy-fifth  was  stationed  on  Santa.  Rosa 
island. 

Several  of  the  officers  had  been  off  011  an  excursion  down  the 
island,  partly  for  a  picnic,  and  partly  to  see  if  the  Confederates 
had  moved  their  outposts  any  closer  to  the  Union  position,  and 
they  were  coming  home  by  boat  in  the  evening.  "  Suddenly  a 
rocket  shot  up  from  the  Water  Witch  [  one  of  the  United  States' 
gunboats  on  patrol  duty  off  the  coast]  and  in  a  moment  mere 
'Crack!  Crack!  Crack!'  went  the  muskets  from  the  distant 
picket  line  on  land,  mistaking  a  signal  for  a  pilot  for  an  alarm 
from  the  mounted  patrol.  The  steamer  Mississippi  lying  off 
shore  here  an3WTered  the  signal  by  another  rocket,  and  (  Crack ! 
Crack ! !  Crack ! ! !  '  went  the  muskets  of  the  pickets  again.  By 
this  time  the  mounted  patrol  down  the  island  took  alarm,  and 

-•"•('amp    Hamilton,  Va.,  July  11,  1861. 

30  "  We  had  an  alarm  out  on  picket  at  daylight  this  morning  and  for  a 
fe\v  minutes  I  was  sure  our  pickets  were  being  driven  in.  I  was  in 
charge  of  Post  3.  and  as  the  scattering  cra(k  of  some  half  dozen  rifles 
resounded  through  the  woods  like  the  firing  of  sentinels  lie  ing  driven  in,  T 
turned  out  my  guard  and  hurried  up  in  the  'double  quick'  with  about  30 
men.  I  expected  every  moment  as  1  went  up  to  see  ;ni  enemy  but  it  turned 
out  to  be  only  the  old  guard  firing  off  their  pieces  as  they  were  relieved 
on  the  post  next  to  me."  Ibid.,  July  23,  1861.  (Letter  begun  July  2lst.) 


CAMP   LIFE  51 

sent  up  a  rocket  which  is  a  signal  agreed  on  that  the  enemy  are 
on  the  island.  Away  went  a  half  dozen  shots  from  the  picket 
guanl  ugain.  Of  course  we  understood  that  there  was  no  cause 
for  alarm,  but  we  knew  that  our  absence,  coupled  with  such 
extraordinary  demonstrations  would  make  a  terrible  excitement 
in  camp,  and  we  hurried  in,  but  it  was  eight  o'clock  before  we 
wciv  hailed  by  the  guard,  and  after  recognition  set  foot  on  sand. 
Meanwhile,  Col.  Brown  3T  and  his  officers  at  the  Fort  understood 
the  whole  thing  as  we  did,  but  the  mounted  patrol,  excited 
1-y  i  he  sight  of  the  rebel  vessels  we  had  seen,  the  unusual  fire  over 
at  Pen  saw!  a,  and  some  little  whiskey,  kept  sending  in  a  mes 
senger  at  full  speed  every  half  hour  with  new  and  increasing  tales 
of  danger  and  disaster,  until  our  picket  guard  wa,s  wild  with  fear 
nnd  two  of  them  on  the  beach  deserted  their  posts.  i  The  pickets 
had  been  fired  on  and  one  man  shot ! '  i  The  enemy  were  already 
on  the  island  and  two  of  the  mounted  patrol  were  missing!  '  (  The 
officers  of  the  7.~>th  had  been  attacked  and  the  Major  and  Capt. 
Dwight  taken  prisoners!'  (This  story  came  very  direct  to  the 
Col.  about  a  minute  before  I  got  on  my  horse  to  join  the  battalion 
and  report  for  duty).  '  The  guard  had  been  overpowered  and 
fled  into  -camp !  '  And  to  cap  the  climax  of  absurd  fright,  one  of 
the  mounted  patrol  came  down  the  beach  at  a  full  run  on  his 
mule,  out  of  breath,  shouting  to  the  sentries  on  the  beach  as  he 
came  along,  '  Run  !  G'd  d — n  you !  The  enemy  are  close  behind  ! 
If  you  can't  get  to  camp,  hide  in  the  bushes!  Run  for  your 
life  G'd  d — n  you !  '  It  was  no  wonder  two  or  three  of  the 
volunteers  deserted  their  posts  and  ran  in. 

"  Meanwhile,  our  Regt.  and  Col.  Wilson's  turned  out  under 
arms  and  i  stood  in  battle  array.'  Col.  Brown  had  warned  them 
that  it  was  a  false  alarm,  but  as  a  matter  of  precaution  to  be  ready, 
and  so  they  were.  'Of  course  they  were  agitated  by  all  sorts  of 
fears  for  us,  and  were  glad  enough  to  see  us,  I  assure  you. 
Questions  &  congratulations  flowed  in  upon  us  in  heaps,  and 
the  whole  affair  was  soon  explained  from  first  to  last. 

"  But  the  rebels  were  as  badly  scared  as  we.     The  sloop  & 
'  liooner  had  got  in  &  reported  armed  parties  &  unusual  fires, 
<!own  the  Island,  and  the  rockets  and  signals,  of  red,  green,  white 
nnd  blue  lights  on  the  Water  Witch  and  Niagara  alarmed  them 
ly.      The  long  roll  n8  boat  first   at  Fort  McRea   and  our 


""  Colonel  P.rown  was  the  regular  armv  officer  in  com  ma  ml  at  Fort 
Fir-kens,  and  as  senior  colonel,  commandant  on  the  island. 

58  The  long  roll  was  the  assembly  signal,  to  call  the  force  out  in  battle 
line. 


LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  BABCOCK 

people  here  heard  it  quickly  rattling  all  along  their  whole  line  for 
four  miles.  I  presume  ten  thousands  men  were  got  under  arms 
in  half  an  hour,  from  half  past  seven  to  eight  o'clock.  How  the 
rebels  settled  it  and  when  they  went  to  bed,  we  don't  know,  but 
our  troops  all  had  '  tattoo '  and  i  taps '  for  roll  call  and  lights  out 
at  the  usual  hour."  39 

While  stationed  at  Fort  McHenry,  Baltimore,  the  officers  were 
required  to  take  turns  as  officer  of  the  guard  at  the  fort.  "  We 
are  on  guard  for  24  hours  once  in  four  days,  or  one  fourth  of  the 
time."  "  By  7  o'clock  .  .  .  the  heat  was  very  oppressive,  but 
after  breakfast,  I  had  to  put  on  my  dress  coat,  button  it  up  to  the 
chin,  don  my  epaulets,  and  buckle  on  sword,  belt,  sash  and  pistol, 
and  undertake  the  duties  of  '  Officer  of  the  Guard.7  We  have 
k  Guard  Mounting '  which  is  a  sort  of  Parade  of  the  guard  at 
8  o'clock,  and  then  I  have  to  come  to  the  guard  house  and  stay 
24  hours. 

"  Here  the  guard  house  is  a  little  7  by  9  projection  on  the 
inside  of  the  wall  of  the  Fort  Enclosure  by  the  main  gate.  It 
is  garnished  by  one  rough,  dirty,  unpainted  table  and  one  chair. 
It  has  two  apertures  for  windows  and  we  are  occasionally  so 
fortunate  as  to  get  a  cool  breeze  through  it.  Here  I  sit,  '  perked 
up  in  a  glittering  grief/  suffocating  under  arms  and  uniform 
which  I  must  not  lay  off.  My  shirt  was  long  since  all  wet,  and 
my  gbves  so  saturated  that  I  had  to  take  them  off.  My  stock 
ings,  pants,  coat  and  vest  are  nearly  full  but  still  the  sun  pours 
down."  The  escape  of  a  prisoner  early  in  October  caused 
increased  vigilance  in  the  guard,  and  the  officer  was  required  to 
patrol  the  walls  all  night,  in  spite  of  bad  weather.42  Each  night 
complete  preparations  were  made  at  Fort  McHenry  to  receive  an 
enemy  in  case  of  attack,  although  no  hostile  force  was  known  to 
be  near,  and  such  arrangements  for  defense  were  under  the  super 
vision  of  the  officer  of  the  guard. 

"  We  have  just  turned  the  last  key,  put  up  a  temporary 
chevaux  de  frise  at  the  outer  gate  of  the  Fort  proper,  and  shut 
out  all  the  world.  The  commander-in-chief  of  the  American 
Army  could  not  now  come  into  the  Fort  but  must  wait  outside 
till  morning.  A  score  of  men  are  in  each  bastion  of  the  Fort, 


30  Santa    Kosa    island,   Florida.  January   ?f>,    !S(i2       (LHior  bf<run   January 
23d.) 

40  Fort  McHenry,  Baltimore,  October   12.  1S61. 

41  Fort  McHenry,  Baltimore,  August  4,   1801.      (Letter  begun  August  3d.) 
«2 /&*>/.,  October  11,  1861.     (Letter  begun  October  10th,) 


CAMP   LIFE  53 

tlio  artillery  men  are  at  their  guns,  the  guns  are  shotted,  and 
everything  is  ready  to  meet  an  attack  —  an  attack  which  is 
as  likely  to  happen  here  as  in  Homer  [New  York],  and  no  more 
so.  The  rain  has  set  in  steadily  and  there  will  be  a  rainy  night. 
I  shall  lie  down  on  a  hard  board  which  covers  a  box  by  my  side 
with  my  overcoat  under  my  head  and  try  to  rest  if  not  to  sleep. 
(•Monday  morning).  "A  dark  rainy  morning  and  dreary 
enough.  But  I  feel  well  and  hopeful  this  morning.  I  lay  down 
on  my  box  last  night  with  my  head  on  my  overcoat  and  my  sword 
in  my  arms  (the  regulations  forbidding  us  while  on  guard  to  take 
off  arms  or  accoutrements,  and  went  to  sleep.  I  awoke  towards 
morning  shivering  with  damp  and  cold,  and  feared  I  had  caught 
a  cold,  but  I  put  my  cape  over  me  and  went  to  sleep  again,  only 
to  wake  up  in  time  for  Reveille  at  4%  o'clock  with  no  cold  or  ill 
of  any  sort."  43 

Besides  the  officer  of  guard,  there  was  a  field  officer  of  the 
day,  a  major  or  perhaps  a  lieutenant-colonel,  who  had  general 
supervision  over  all  the  guards  of  the  camp,  and  he  usually  made 
a  "  grand  round  " 44  or  tour  of  inspection  of  the  sentries  about 
midnight.  "A  little  after  midnight  it  began  to  rain,  and  I  had 
a  tedious  time  visiting  my  guards  [as  field  officer  of  the  day]. 
Xow  the  sharp  sand  would  cut  my  face  and  fill  my  eyes  like  a 
hail  of  broken  glass,  and  then  the  big  drops  of  rain  would  assault 
me  almost  as  sharply  as  the  sand.  The  moon  was  hid,  and  the 
gale  had  blown  the  water  so  far  upon  the  beach  on  both  sides  of 
the  Island  [Santa  Rosa]  .that  I  had  to  flounder  along  on  my 
frightened  pony  in  constant  danger  of  a  fall.  I  got  around  how 
ever  by  daybreak  and  took  a  good  sleep  of  two  or  three  hours 
before  breakfast."  45 

Picket  and  guard  duty  thus  entailed  a  large  amount  of  extra 
work  coupled  with  loss  of  sleep  for  a  period  of  24  hours,  very 
often,  when  the  force  so  protected  was  relatively  small. 

SCOUTING    SERVICE    AND    RECONNOISSANCE 

Closely  allied  with  picket  duty  was  scout  and  reconnaissance 
service  in  the  protection  of  a  camp  or  military  force  from  surprise. 
These  small  bodies  of  troops  scoured  the  country  for  several  miles 


43  Fort  McHenry,   Baltimore,  August   11,   1861. 

44  Santa   Rosa   'island,   Florida,   March   31,    1862.      (Letter   begun    March 
24th.) 

45  Santa  Rosa  island,  Florida,  April   12,  1862.      (Letter  begun  April  7th.) 


~>4  LETTERS   OF   GENERAL  BABCOCK 

in  every  direction  beyond  the  picket  line,  bringing  back  informa 
tion  of  the  enemy's  movements  and  m-asionally  picking  up  a  few 
prisoners  caught  on  similar  service.  The  force  sent  out  varied 
from  a  few  men  or  a  platoon,  to  several  companies  or  even  a  regi 
ment  if  there  was  to  be  a  "  reconnaissance  in  force.77  '  On 
Saturday  Capt.  Smith  with  one  company  went  out  to  look  up  and 
guard  a  bridge,  and  on  Sunday  our  company  was  sent  out  to 
carry  them  provisions  and  scout  abroad  after  the  enemy.  We 
hurried  off  and  I  dropped  my  pen  in  order  to  go.  We  walked 
five  or  six  miles  to  reach  them,  through  woods,  by-roads  and 
marshes,  and  reached  them  about  11  Mi  o'clock.  After  dinner, 
I  took  a  squad  of  ten  resolute  fellows  and  went  on  further  beating 
about  to  see  if  we  could  find  traces  of  our  enemies,  and  to  look 
ever  the  country.  We  must  have  travelled  some  8  or  10  miles 
and  got  back  to  the  little  camp  about  5  o'clock  safe  and  sound. 

"  We  traversed  a  beautiful  country  and  there  was  excitement 
enough  in  looking  for  armed  enemies  to  make  it  very  interesting. 
We  found  several  scouts  of  our  friends  but  no  enemies."  u  We 
lost  three  men  over  beyond  Hampton  yesterday.  A  small  scout 
ing  party  of  six  went  out,  and  in  returning  fell  into  an 
ambush,  by  which  a  Major  liawlings,  brother  of  the  Eawlings  of 
the  Illustrated  papers  was  killed  and  two  were  wounded  and  taken 
prisoners.  Three  escaped.  I  do  not  know  to  what  regiment  the 
men  belonged.  We  have  a  man  of  our  company  now  out  as  a 
scout  or  spy  within  the  enemy's  lines." 

"  Just  before  the  rain  began  [referring  to  a  storm  which  he 
has  described]  our  scout  (whom  we  heard  this  p.  m.  had  fallen 
into  the  hands  of  the  rebels)  came  in  with  a  whole  skin.  He  had 
several  hair  breadth  'scapes  and  saw  some  enemies.  He  has 
been  out  in  the  woods  three  nights  with  five  comrades, — last  night 
with  one. 

"  He  is  a  great  genius,  named  Fiddis,  a  visionary  fellow, 
always  planning  some  mystery  and  in  fact  making  mysteries  out 
of  the  commonest  things.  We  call  him  '  the  Scout '  from  his 
propensity  for  scouting."  47 

During  the  time:  the  Seventy-fifth  was  encamped  on  Santa 
Rosa  island,  Florida,  various  scouting  expeditions  were  sent 
down  the  island  to  prevent  an  attack  from  the  rear.  "  This  morn 
ing  two  companies  were  sent  down  the  Island  to  make  an  '  armed 


46  Camp  Hamilton.  Ya.,  -Tune   11,   ISfil.    (Letter  hog-un  June  Sth.) 

47  Camp  Hamilton,  Ya..  July  20,  1861. 


CAMP   LIFE  55 

reconnaissance  ' --—  a  company  of  the  artillery  and  a  company  of 
the  Oth  Keg't.  with  three  gnus  and  provisions  for  live  days.  Four 
deserters  en  11  ic  over  t»>day.  and  one  of  them  is  to  bo  sent  down 
in  a  schooner  tonight  in  hopes  to  guide  them,  to  take  three  com 
panies  of  rebels  down  about  30  miles."  5  No  results  were  obtained 
by  this  party,  however.  A  similar  expedition  wasi  sent  out  from 
IVnsacola  May  27,  1862,  in  order  to  capture  a  Confederate  picket 
guard  stationed  some  distance  out  from  the  city. 

''  Three  expeditions  are  to  be  out  tonight,  one  of  which  I 
lead.  ...  I  am  to  leave  on  the  steamer  Gen.  Meigs  at  midnight 
to  attempt  to  capture  a  picket  guard  or  two,  and  I  may,  of  course, 
see  some  little  skirmish." 

u  We  got  away  on  our  expedition  at  midnight,  and  everything 
went  off  in  good  order  according  to  the  Programme  except  the 
rebels  urto  left  too  soon.  We  first  landed  a  party  at  Gassing 
(pronounced  Gassong)  Pt.  and  scoured  a  tract  of  country  sup 
posed  to  contain  a  rebel  picket. 

'•  This,  owing  TO  misinformation  delayed  us  a  little,  and  it  was 
a  quarter  after  three  before  we  got  up  stream  and  went  on  to  a 
pi  ace  on  the  Escambia  Bay  known  as  i  Gull  Pt.',  which  we  reached 
at  daylight.  We  got  into  the  launches  and  ashore  in  the  face  of 
a  house  where  we  were  informed  the  enemy  were.  It  was  just 
the  gray  of  morning,  011  the  hill  in  front  of  us  was  a  light  shown 
by  the  guard,  in  the  East  the  day  was  coming  out  gloriously,  on 
the  water  was  our  line  of  boats  crowded  with  soldiers  and  sailors, 
the  sailors  striving  which  boat  should  first  touch  the  sand.  It 
was  an  inspiriting  scene,  and  there  was  just  enough  danger  in  it 
to  make  one's  spirits  rise  as  in  intoxication.  We  were  ashore  in 
a.  moment,  formed  quickly,  and  surrounded  the  house  only  to 
find  it  empty.  We  had  then  only  to  push  on  to  another  sup 
posed  station.  I  followed  the  guide,  followed  with  great  difficulty 
l;y  the  soldiers  through  a,  thick  bush,  in  a  circuit  of  a  mile  or 
more  to  the  place,  dubious  of  any  results  for  I  had  already  voted 
the  guide  a  humbug.  It  was  a  weary  mile  and  we  surrounded 
another  house.  This  was  the  wrong  house,  and  not  twenty  rods 
from  us  the  rebels  to  the  number  of  6  or  8  had  just  left,  in  such 
haste  as  to  leave  their  pork  and  fresh  fish  frying  on  the  fire. 
We  felt  mortified  enough  and  vexed  to  think  we  had  failed,  but 
the  fault  was  in  the  mistake  of  the  guide.  Our  men  did  well,  and 


48  Santa    Rosa    island.    Florida.    March    27,    1S02.       (Letter    begun    March 
24th.) 


56  LETTERS  OP  GENERAL  BABCOCK 

we  did  everything  promptly.  But  we  couldn't  come  it.  We 
got  back  to  the  city  about  7  o'clock.  Col.  Merirtt  took  four  com 
panies  out  to  Oaktield  OIL  a  reconnaisance,  attacked  a  small 
picket,  killed  one  man,  wounded  one,  captured  three  horses  and 
saddles,  two  shot  guns  and  a  saber.  No  one  was  hurt  on  our 
side/7  49 

These  raids,  then,  (Served  several  purposes;  first,  to  obtain 
information  by  observation  and  capture  of  prisoners;  second,  to 
force  back  Confederate  outposts  near  Union  positions ;  and  third, 
to  break  the  monotony  of  camp  and  garrison  life,  by  giving  the 
men  active  service  with  slight  danger  in  it. 


MARCHES 

Picket  duty  and  scouting  were  hard  011  the  men,  as  they 
involved  loss  of  sleep,  and  a  certain  amount  of  marching,  but 
there  was  always  an  element  of  the  unknown  in  them.  Pickets 
were  always  stationed  at  points  from  which  an  attack  was  likely 
to  come,  and  scouting  expeditions  were  sent  out  for  the  purpose 
of  locating  the  enemy  and  getting  information  of  his  movements. 
Long,  continued  marches,  on  the  other  hand,  were  largely  a  matr 
ter  of  the  endurance  and  physical  condition  of  the  men. 

The  Third  regiment  found  itself  overtaxed  by  the  long  march 
to  Great  Bethel,  followed  by  a  battle  and  a  retreat,  all  on  the 
same  day,  June  11,  1861.  Company  II  had  been  out  on  a  scout 
ing  expedition,  in  the  course  of  which  it  had  gone  a  number  of 
miles,  and  had  just  returned  to  camp.  "  I  flung  myself  on  my 
mattress,  but  had  to  get  up  at  once  and  pack  my  trunk  and  roll 
my  overcoat  ready  for  a  march  which  it  was  said  was  on  foot. 
We  directed  the  men  to  sleep  on  their  arms  and  be  ready  to 
march  at  a  moment's  warning,  and  a  little  after  nine  o'clock  I 
threw  myself  on  my  mattress  and  tried  to  get  a  little  sleep.  A 
little  after  ten  o'clock  the  long  roll  of  the  drum  started  us  from 
our  sleep  and  I  jumped  up  and  was  armed  in  a  minute.  The 
men  were  very  quick  in  line  with  rifles  loaded.  But  we  were 
delayed  a  long  time  to  get  three  days'  rations.  It  was  two  o'clock 
nearly  before  we  got  fairly  off.  We  went  to  Hampton  and  were 
put  across  the  creek  by  Colonel  Bartlett's  Naval  Brigade.  The 
expedition  was  for  an  attack  upon  a  fortified  place  near  New 
Bethel  Church,  and  was  made  up  of  our  regiment,  of  Col. 


49Pensacola,  Fla.,  May  2S,  1862.      (Letter  begun  May  25th.) 


CAMP   LIFE  57 

Allen's,  and  Col.  Duryea's  Regiment®  from  here,  and  of  detach 
ments  of  five  companies  from  each  of  three  regiments  at  New 
port  News. 

"  The  plan  was  to  attack  the  enemy  on  all  sides  at  daybreak, 
drive  in  their  pickets  and  surprise  them.  But  we  did  not  get 
across  the  creek  until  a  quarter  to  three,  and  it  soon  began  to 
be  light.  Col.  Din-yea's  Regiment  of  Zouaves  was  ahead  of  us 
several  miles  and  one  Regt.  after  us.  We  pushed  on  rapidly  a 
good  deal  of  the  time  at  the  double  quick  step  which  is  a  sort  of 
dog  trot.  Our  men  were  very  much  fatigued,  and  several  were 
exhausted  and  dropped  out  of  ranks  before  we  got  to  New  Market 
Bridge  some  four  or  five  miles.  .  .  .  [As  the  regiment  was 
marching  along  the  road,  it  was  fired  upon  by  another  Union 
regiment  from  ambush  by  mistake,  and  several  killed  and 
wounded.] 

"  Here  we  found  Col.  Duryea  and  most  of  the  troops  from 
Newport  News,  and  after  a  little  rest  started,  and  sending  our 
dead  and  wounded  back  we  pushed  on.  It  was  now  seven  o'clock. 
By  nine  o'clock  we  were  near  the  New  Bethel  Church,  and  halted 
a  few  minutes  for  rest.  After  resting  a  moment  the  artillery, 
of  which  we  had  three  guns,  was  sent  forward  and  soon  engaged 
the  enemy.  We  were  drawn  up  in  line  of  battle  %  of  a  mile 
from  the  redoubt  and  could  see  and  hear  the  fight  commence. 
.  .  .  After  firing  some  fifteen  minutes  and  killing  quite  a  num 
ber,  we  retreated.  .  .  .  After  a  few  minutes'  rest  we  again 
formed  right  under  fire  from  their  cannon  and  moved  back  to 
cur  original  position.  The  men  were  worn  out.  Scores  of  them 
sank  down  unable  to  carry  a  gun  a  step  farther.  Several  cases 
of  sunstroke  took  place. 

"About  one  o'clock  we  got  a  few  minutes'  rest  and  started 
back  home.  It  seemed  to  mo  that  I  could  not  put  one  foot  before 
the  other.  But  to  walk  10  miles  was  what  I  did  not  imagine 
I  could  do.  It  was  hot  and  dusty  and  I  had  my  heavy  overcoat 
to  carry  and  one  of  the  men's  heavy  overcoats,  besides  my  sword, 
a,  haversack  and  canteen.  Slowly  we  came  on,  feeling  as  if  every 
mile  was  the  very  last,  until  seven  o'clock  when  I  got  into  my 
tent  in  health  and  with  life.  We  would  not  have  imagined  we 
could  do  what  we  did.  As  near  as  I  can  tell,  I  marched  about 
20  miles  Sunday,  [on  the  scouting  expedition]  and  25  miles 
yesterday,  and  all  without  more  than  half  an  hour's  sleep  and 


58  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  BABCOCK 

very  little  rest.     I  ate  only  one  good  meal  during  the  time,  but 
lived  on  crackers  and  water."50 

Wjheii  the  Union  forces  from  Santa  Rosa  island  landed  on  the 
mainland  across  the  channel  from  Fort  Pickens,  after  the  evacu 
ation  of  Pensacola  on  the  night  of  'May  9,  1862,  they  still  had 
a  long  march  to  make,  beforei  they  could  enter  the  city  and  take 
possession.  "  Our  march  to  Pensacola  was  a  rather  hot,  dusty, 
weary  one  of  some  10  or  12  miles.  The  men,  however,  were  all 
in  fine  spirits,  and  many  men  and  officers  who  have  long  been 
sick  we're  now  pushing  on  bravely.  I  was  mounted,  and  though 
I  was  a  little  ashamed  of  it,  I  did  inwardly  congratulate  myself 
that  I  was  now  a  field  officer  just  for  its  exemptions  from  fatigue. 
Of  course  I  rode  easily  but  finally  got  off  and  gave  my  seat  to 
the  Leader  of  the  Band  who  was  getting  exhausted.  I  carried 
a  musket  so  for  a  mile  or  more.  The  first  house  we  came  to  was 
a  negro  hut,  but  frocks  and  all  sorts  of  female  garments  ( .  .  . ) 
were  out  drying  on  the  fence,  and  you  would  have  laughed  your 
self  half  to  death  to  hear  the  jokes  and  remarks  as  the  men 
passed  by.  .  .  .  We  made  two  or  three  short,  halts,  and  reached 
the  outskirts  of  Pensacola  about  six  o'clock.  Here  another  halt 
was  made,  the  ranks  closed  up,  the  Band  and  field  music  sent 
to  the  front,  dust  brushed  off  a  little  and  white  gloves  put  on. 
Then  the  word  i  forward !  '  came  down  the  lines,  and  we  went 
briskly  on  to  the  tune  of  Yankee  Doodle.  The  streets  we 
passed  through  were  very  shabby  but  any  town  looked  splendid 
to  us,  and  our  elation  formed  a  striking  contrast  to  the  sour 
looks  and  downcast  faces  of  the  white  people  who  stood  in  small 
groups  on  the  corners  or  furtively  peeped  out  of  the  closed  blinds. 
A  few  houses  were  open,  but  stores,  hotels,  and  most  dwellings 
were  closed.  .  .  .  We  marched  to  the  plaza  and  formed  a  line 
around  it  with  artillery  and  the  General's  staff  in  front.  A 
party  of  marines  from  the  gunboat  i  Maria  Wood  '  landed  and 
formed  also  facing  the  great  flag-staff  and  the  ruins  of  a  gallows 
built  here  for  unionists  on  the  1st  April.  .  .  .  While  I  was 
m-cnc'  [Major  Babcock  had  been  detailed  to  post  guard  details 
at  the  principal  points  of  the-  town]  the  stars  and  stripes  were 
sont  to  the  top  of  the  flagstaff,  and  saluted  with  one  gun  and 
with  three  cheers  from  the  soldiers  and  sailors  and  a  good  num 
ber  of  the  bystanders."  51 


r>0  Hampton,  Va.,  JUMP  11,  18(51.      (Letter  begun  June  8th.) 
151  Pensacola.  Fla.,  May   14,  1862. 


CAMP    LIFE  59 

The  campaign  into  the  Teche  country  of  Louisiana  commenc 
ing  in  January,  ISOo,  and  end  ing  in  May  of  that  year  when  the 
;inny  was  ordered  to  Port  Hudson,  was  a  very  heavy  strain  on 
officers  and  men.  The  advance  was  steady,  day  after  day,  and 
the  distances  covered  were  remarkable  through  a  poorly  watered 
country. 

"  We  had  a  smart  march  of  seven  miles  yesterday  morning 
over  a  beautiful  road  to  'St.  Martinsville,  ten  miles  from  New 
Iberia.  .'•';'  .  Leaving  St.  Martinsville  we  came  out  upon  an 
immense  prairie,  and  had  a  weary,  dusty  march  to  a  bayou  about 
a  dozen  miles  from  here,  where  we  had  to  halt  a  couple  of  hours 
for  a  bridge  to  be  built.  We  crossed  about  4  P.  M.  and  pushed 
on  four  miles  more,  over  the  most  beautiful  rolling  plains  I  ever 
saw.  ;. ' : ."  .  We  found  the  water  poor  and  our  men  were  terribly 
thirsty  and  footsore  \vhen  at  six  o'clock  we  stopped  for  the  night 
and  bivouacked.  ... 

"At  six  o'clock,  [the  next  morning]  we  formed  a  line  of  illfed 
cross,  weary,  footsore  men  and  marched  six  or  seven  miles  to 
within  one  mile  of  Vermillion  River  where  a  bridge  has  been 
burnt,  and  here  we  rest  until  tomorrow — a  most  welcome  day 
of  rest  to  men  and  horses.  .  .  .  Our  route  to  Opelousas,  for 
two  days'  march,  lies  through  a  rolling  prairie  region,  with  only 
brackish  water  in  muddy  pools  here  and  there.  I  expect  much 
suffering  and  some  loss.  We  have  made  many  windings  on  our 
way  thus  far  and  have  made  large  marches. 

"  On  Wednesday  we  marched  from  Franklin  to  Jeannerette's, 
1 S  miles,  Thursday  to  a  point  this  side  of  New  Iberia  20  miles, 
Friday  20  miles.  Today  about  six  or  seven  miles.  With  plenty 
of  water  the  road  would  be  fine.  As  it  is,  after  a  breeze  comes 
up  in  the  morning,  so  as  to  blow  the  dust  away,  we  shall  go 
very  comfortably.  In  the  vicinity  of  Opelousas,  the  water  is 
gnod.  Beyond  for  three  or  four  days'  inarch,  we  shall  find  the 
water  poor.  We  are  bound  to  Alexandria,  and  if  we  have  good 
luck  shall  be  there  in  about  five  days." 

"  We  left  camp  near  Vermillion  River  where  I  wrote  my  last 
letter  to  you,  at  six  o'clock  yesterday  morning  in  a.  most  ter 
rific  rain.  .  .  .  Wo  forniod  our  line  at  six  o'clock,  and  moved  off 
to  the  ford  over  the  river  while  Xim's  battery  fired  a  salute  in 
commemoration  of  the  battle  of  Lexington  in  the  old  time  and 
tho  shedding  of  Massachusetts  blood  in  the  new.  [April  19. 


r'-Xe;ir   Vormillion    river,  April    IS,    1863. 


60  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  BABCOCK 

1775,  and  April  19,  1861,  at  Baltimore.]  Oh  how  the  rain 
poured  down  and  the  water  rose  up !  The  boys  however  plodded 
along,  singing  and  joking  in  the  j oiliest  of  humors,  through 
\7ermillionville  and  over  the  prairies  to  the  Northward.  Before 
noon,  the  rain  ceased  so  that  after  all  it  was  a.  pleasant  march. 
Wet  to  the  skin,  nothing  could  damp  the  spirits  of  the  boys,  and 
in  spite  of  mud  and  rain  we  made  18  miles.  We  encamped  last 
night  in  a  lonesome  prairie  region  about  12  miles  the  other  side 
of  Opelousas.  At  six  o'clock  today  we  were  off  again,  but  soon 
lost  the  road  and  have  had  a  weary  day,  marching  at  least  eighteen 
miles  to  get  to  this  camp  one  mile  North  of  Opelousas.  We  got 
here  about  five  o'clock. 

"  We  closed  up  our  ranks  and  marched  through  the  capital 
of  Louisiana  to  the  tune  of  Yankee  Doodle,  showing  off  the  75th 
in  fine  'Style.  I  confess  to  some  pride  as  I  looked  back  down 
the  column  and  saw  how  fine  and  soldierly  they  looked.  They 
Avere  the  only  Regt.  who  did  not  fail  on  the  march.  We  are  to 
rest  over  one  day  and  then  I  suppose  go  on  again."  53 

A  few  days  later  "  Our  brigade  had  left  camp  Monday 
2  P.  M.  [probably  at  Barre's  Landing,  some  distance  north  of 
Opelousas]  gone  to  Washington,  waited  four  hours,  then  marched 
till  2  o'clock  A.  M.  to  catch  Dwight,  [the  general  in  command 
of  the  brigade  forming  the  advance]  and  then  starting  at  six 
again,  (reveille  a.t  4)  had  pushed  on  some  25  miles  on  Tuesday. 
They  marched  at  least  25  miles  on  Wednesday. 

"  Thursday  morning  I  was  waked  at  four  o'clock  by  reveille, 
and  the  Gen.  had  intended  to  march  at  5,  but  the  order  not  hav 
ing  been  sent  around  we  did  not  get  off  till  nearly  six,  and  we 
pushed  on.  Cheneyville  was  the  first  place  we  passed,  32  miles 
fiom  Alexandria,  Gen.  Dwight  was  some  8  miles  ahead,  but 
in  the  P.  M.  he  stopping  to  repair  a  bridge,  we  caught  his  rear 
guard  and  passed  by  his  long  wagon  train.  Here  Dwight 
marched  eight  miles  without  stopping,  his  cry  being  'Weitzel's 
coming !  Forward ! ' 

"  We  kept  on  steadily  until  we  got  within  10  miles  of  Alex. 
a  when  we  concluded  to  go  into  the  place  anyhow.  So  on  we 
went,  Dwight  was  about  two  miles  ahead,  seizing  teams  to  carry 
his  stragglers  and  footsore,  an  example  which  we  followed 
diligently. 

"About  sunset  we  passed  Gov.  Moore's  place  some  six  miles 


53  Opelousas,  La.,  April  20,   1863. 


CAMP   LIFE 


61 


from  Alex,  a,  when,  my  men  began  to  crowd  forward  en  mass, 
lilling  the  road.  Col.  Thomas  [of  the  Eighth  Vermont]  saw  it 
and  closed  his  regiment  up  in  the  same  way.  Now  began  a  race. 
For  four  or  five  miles,  singing,  shouting,  laughing,  joking,  our 
boys  crowded  on  faster  than  my  horse  could  walk,  calling  to 
the  8th  Vt.  to  get  out  of  the  way  and  to  me  and  the  Adjutant 
to  get  fresh  horses  to  go  on  out  of  the  way."  I  think  I  never 
laughed  more  in  one  hour  than  I  did  there.  In  this  way  we 
reached  Alex,  a  before  eight  o'clock,  bringing  nearly  every  man 
into  camp,  and  arriving  before  Dwight  had  got  his  camp  fires 
lighted.54  It  was  ten  o'clock  before  our  wagon  trains  came  up 
and  we  got  supper."  55 

"  We  are  again  in  camp  from  which  with  much  labor,  I  wrote 
you  before.  We  have  had  a  weary  march  which  could  be 
described  precisely  like  the  famous  one  of  the  King  of  France. 

"  We  left  our  camp  here  [at  Alexandria]  after  dark  on  Sat 
urday  night  and  marched  over  onto  the  road  where  Gen.  Dwight's 


54  James  Hall  in  his  "  Record  of  the  75th  N.  Y.  Volunteers,"  page  103, 
says:  "About  an  hour  before  sunset  an  Aid  came  riding  up  to  Gen.  Weitzel, 
who  was  riding  alongside  the  75th,  and  stated  Gen  Banks's  desire  that  the 
troops  should  reach  Alexandria  that  night,  Porter  having  taken  it  with  his 
fleet  the  day  before.  Knowing  the  condition  of  his  men,  Lieut.-Col.  Babcock 
almost  despaired  of  executing  the  orders  he  received  to  that  effect. 

"  Discussing  the  predicament  with  Lieut.  Thurber,  [of  Company  A]  who 
was  at  hand,  he  asked  if  some  excitement  could  not  be  aroused  to  carry  the 
men  through.  Thurber,  in  turn,  appealed  to  a  waggish  fellow  in  his  com 
pany  to  suggest  an  expedient.  Without  a  moment's  hesitation,  the  witty 
fellow  stepped  ahead  of  his  comrades,  raised  aloft  his  musket,  from  the 
bayonet  of  which  hung  a  huge  turkey  that  he  had  picked  up  during  the  day 
and  had  carried  through  all  the  toil  and  heat,  and  shouted,  '  Come  on,  boys ! 
The  one  who  gets  into  Alexandria  ahead  of  me  tonight  can  have  this!  ' 
And  with  that  he  started  on  a  double  quick. 

"  The  effect  was  irresistible,  and  with  an  enthusiastic  cheer  which  sur 
prised  themselves  as  well  as  their  officers,  the  men  imitated  his  pace.  A 
few  minutes  brought  them  to  the  rear  of  the  Vermont  regiment  which  had 
the  lead.  Therefore  our  boys  showered  them  with  such  exclamations  as  '  Out 
of  the  way  there,  slow  coaches !  We're  bound  for  Alexandria !  ' 

"  This  exhibition  of  pluck  roused  the  spirit  of  the  Green  Mountain  Colonel. 
'  Boys,'  said  old  Thomas,  in  his  slow,  dry  way ;  *  boys,  are  you  going  to  let 
the  75th  New  York  get  ahead  of  you? '  Of  course  the  brave  old  8th  was  not 
to  be  outdone,  and  broke  into  a  double-quick.  This  roused  the  enthusiasm 
of  the  other  regiments,  and  they  followed  suit.  Thus,  on  a  full  run,  Weitzel's 
and  Emory's  commands  charged  into  the  suburbs  of  Alexandria,  which  they 
reached  at  ten  o'clock.  So  completely  exhausted  were  they,  the  men  dropped 
to  the  ground  almost  at  the  moment  they  received  the  order  to  halt;  and 
they  went  to  sleep  just  wherever  they  fell."  Hall  Cayuga  in  the  Field,  part 
2,  p.  103. 

Unfortunately  Mr  Hall  does  not  tell  where  he  got  this  story,  and  it  is 
given  here  merely  for  comparison  with  the  account  given  in  Colonel  Bab- 
cock's  letters. 

r>r>  Alexandria,   La.,  May  9,   1863. 


62  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  BABCOCK 

brigade  was,  some  two  and  a  half  miles  from  Alex,  a-  and  some 
three  miles  or  more  from  here.  Bivouacking  in  a  corn  field,  slu>p- 
ing  only  from  two  to  three  hours,  we  had  reveille  at  three  o'clock 
and  marched  at  four  on  Sunday  morning  towards  the  i  Piney 
Woods '.  We  followed  Bayou  Rapides,  in  heatand  dust,  with 
much  weariness,  through  a  lovely  looking  cotton  country  for  a 
dozen  miles  or  so,  when  we  came  in  sight  of  an  elevated,  rolling, 
woody  plateau  on  our  left,  across  the  bayou,  known  as  the  '  Piney 
Woods  V 

"  Divided  from  bayou  Rapides  by  a  merely  artificial  embank 
ment,  is  bayou  Jean  de  Jean,  running  in  an  exactly  opposite 
direction,  which  we  followed  until  twenty-five  and  a  half  miles 
from  Alexandria  and  near  the  Eed  Eiver  again  when  we  halted 
for  the  night.  We  got  into  camp  about  five  o'clock  and  had  a 
good  supper  and  rest,  and  the  men  were  in  fine  spirits  and  con 
dition  on.  Monday  morning,  to  continue  on  after  the  enemy,  but 
there  was  no  move  until  three  o'clock,  when  we  were  suddenly 
ordered  on,  the  general  having  information  from  the  cavalry  to 
the  effect  that  the  enemy  were  not  over  twenty  miles  or  so  ahead 
of  us,  and  we  might  catch  them.  We  made  a  rapid  march  of  six 
or  seven  miles  while  the  general  rode  on  to  reconnoitre  and 

found  ourselves  about  three  or  four  miles  into  the  Pines,  a  hillv, 

«/ 1 

sandy  barren  land,  covered  thinly  with  pines  and  a  small  oak 
undergrowth.  It  is  very  poorly  watered  and  the  prospect  began 
to  look  gloomy.  We  waited  here  in  the  road  until  near  nine 
o'clock  when  the  General  returned  and  ordered  us  back  to  our 
last  camp,  and  we  were  informed  that  we  were  bound  at  once 
for  Port  Hudson,  'Gen.  Hunter  being  already  in  the  River.  It 
was  a  weary  exhausting  march  back,  as  indeed  are  all  counter 
marches.  We  got  in  late  and  had  a  poor  supper,  our  baggage 
wagons,  save  one,  having  been  ordered  down  to  Alex,  a  in  our 
absence.  Yesterday  morning  at  seven  we  started  on  our  return 
to  Alexandria  by  way  of  the  River,  and  marched  about  nineteen 
miles  to  our  former  camp,  reaching  camp  in  time  to  get  a  good 
supper  before  dark.  Our  Regiment  brought  in  a  considerable 
many  more  men  in  ranks  than  the  160th  [Xew  York]  and  8th 
Vt.  together  and  had  no  stragglers  who  did  not  arrive  with  the 
wagon  train,  but  it  was  a  weary  exhausting  march,  begun  by 
jaded  men  and  prosecuted  without  sufficient  rest.  Gen.  Dwight's 

led  the  way  and  straggled  enormously. 
We  have  now  averaged  over  10  miles  a  day  for  a  month  and 


CAMP   LIFE  63 

uur  men  and  officers  begin  to  show  signs  of  hard  work/'  When 
incidents  occurred  to  break  the  monotony  of  plodding  along  mile 
after  mile,  the  men.  felt  the  strain  of  the  march  less  sharply. 
Such  a  thing  happened  in  the  course  of  the  retreat  from  Alex 
andria.  u  We  left  our  camp  on  the  river  above  Alexandria  on 
Sunday  morning  at  four  o'clock,  and  sending  our  trains  and 
artillery  ahead,  set  our  faces  towards  the  rear.  The  people  of 
Alex,  a  had  learned  enough  of  our  intentions  to  understand  what 
our  movement  meant,  and  could  hardly  conceal  their  good  humor 
at  the  idea  of  relief  from  the  presence  of  the  hated  Yankee.  .  .  . 

"  We  marched  out  of  Alexandria  just  before  sunrise,  the  gen 
eral  intending  to  make  about  20  miles,  but  the  weather  was  fine 
and  the  march  easy,  and  we  had  got  twenty-five  miles  this  side 
(  f  the  city  before  sunset,  making  a  march  of  at  least  twenty- 
seven  miles.  The  enemy  had  not  appeared  in  sight  in  our  rear 
yet.  About  two  miles  before  we  halted  we  passed  a  plantation 
where  ^lajor  Chase  in  whose  house  General  Arnold  lived  at 
Pensacola  had  resided  since  the  war  broke  out.  His  negroes 
were  all  out  to  see  us,  and  I  had  just  sent  my  drum  corps  back 
to  the  middle  of  the  Regiment  to  play  a  little  while.  As  the 
music  struck  up,  they  began  to  dance  as  if  crazy,  and  old  women 
and  young,  boys  and  girls,  women  with  ba.bies  in  their  arms  and 
women  wrinkled  with  age,  crowded  into  the  column  and  danced 
along  with  the  march.  The  men  gave  way,  and  more  than  thirty 
of  all  shades  and  shapes  joined  by  some  soldiers,  entertained  us 
for  a  mile  with  a  genuine  fandango.  The  men  forgot  their 
fatigues  and  blistered  feet,  and  cheered  and  snouted  and  laughed 
as  if  at  a  carnival,  and  it  was  the  funniest  and  strangest  scene 
I  ever  saw.  All  had  on  their  Sunday  suits  and  were  the  neatest 
body  of  colored  people  I  have  ever  seen  on  a  plantation.  The 
soldiers  all  along  the  line  caught  it  up  and  all  the  bands  struck 
up  so  that  we  made  the  last  of  the  march  easier  than  the  first. " n? 

Such  were  the  distances  required  of  an  army  on  the  march, 
day  after  day,  carrying  heavy  rifles,  haversacks  and  blankets. 
Is  it  any  wonder  that  there  was  some  straggling,  and  much 
weariness,  under  these  conditions? 


50  Alexandria,  La.,  May   13,  1803. 

57  Xt-ar  Bayou  Doeuf,  on  Si'inmesport  road.  May  Ifl,  1S03. 


CHAPTER  V 

TKANSPORTATION 

The  problem  of  moving  men  and  supplies  promptly  to  points 
where  they  were  most  needed,  was  always  a  difficult  one,  to  be 
solved  by  the  quartermaster's  department.  Where  a  railroad 
could  be  used,  there  was  the  question  of  available  rolling  stock 
for  the  required  number  of  troops.  But  railroads  were  few  in 
the  South  and  such  equipment  as  the  Confederates  could  not 
take  with  them  in  a  retreat,  they  burned  and  destroyed.1  Trans 
ports  were  also  in  great  demand,  since  a  large  body  of  troops 
had  to  be  moved  by  water,  either  down  the  river  or  along  the 
sea  coast.  Steamers  were  taken  over  in  large  numbers  for  this 
purpose,  both  river  steamers  and  ocean-going  vessels,  but  they 
were  poorly  equipped  to  handle  the  forces  which  were  to  be 
carried.2  (  , 

"  We  got  on  the  steamer  [Alidad]  about  4  P.  M.  and  soon 
got  off  [down  the  Hudson  to  New  York].  There  was  a  tre 
mendous  crowd  to  see  us  off--  [from  Albany].  It  was  an  excit 
ing  exhilarating  time  to  me.  We  brought  a  Brass  Band  with  us 
and  swung  out  from  the  landing  with  music  and  cheers  and  a 
forest  of  waving  handkerchiefs.  About  10  miles  below  the  city 
we  ran  upon  a  bar  and  were  detained  until  9  o'clock.  At  l/2 
past  10,  tired,  restless,  and  suffering  from  a  cold,  I  stretched 
my  blanket  on  the  floor  with  a  cork  life  preserver  for  a  pillow, 
and  after  a  while  got  to  sleep.  At  two  o'clock  I  got  up  with  a 
terrible  cough  and  sore  throat  and  went  on  deck.  The  night 
was  cold,  and  the  men  were  stretched  out  and  cuddled  up  in  all 
conceivable  shapes  sleeping  and  trying  to  sleep.  In  %  an  hour 
or  so  I  stretched  my  bed  again  and  slept  until  4  o'clock  when 
I  got  up  and  went  on  deck  just  as  we  had  passed  West  Point. 
From  that  time  we  have  had  almost  delightful  trip.  ...  I  am 
now  down  in  the  after  cabin,  surrounded  by  swords,  glasses, 
epaulets,  whisky  bottles,  bouquets,  sashes,  drums,  and  boxes  of 
all  sorts  of  things.  Some  20  gay  young  officers  are  around  me 

L  Colonel  Babcock  says  nothing  in  his  letters  concerning  the  movement 
of  troops  by  rail  during  the  war  and  therefore  that  phase  of  transportation 
has  not  been  taken  up. 

2  Near  Hampton,  Va.,  June  6,  1861. 

[64] 


TRANSPORTATION  65 

singing  all  sorts  of  songs,  sentimental,  convivial,  comic  and  mis 
cellaneous,  striving  to  while  away  a  dull  day.  Upon  the  decks 
are  700  men  lounging  about,  reading,  singing,  gazing  and  play 
ing  at  cards.  There  is  no  Sabbath  here.  The  Col.  has  gone 
ashore  to  see  when  we  shall  laud  and  where !  " 

It  was  a  long,  slow  task  to  get  a  regiment  on  board  a  vessel 
for  a  move.  Men  were  detailed  to  load  baggage  and  horses.  "  W<e 
had  twenty-five  loads  of  camp  equipage,  drawn  by  4  hxxrses,  or 
mules  each."  4 

"We  embarked  at  4  o'clock  yesterday  (if  I  may  now  call  it 
the  6th)5  or  as  soon  thereafter  as  some  tons  of  baggage  and  a 
thousand  men  could  be  moved  from  the  Island 6  in  barges  and 
lighters  to  the  steamer  on  which  we  are  now.  We,  that  is,  the 
last  of  us,  got  on  board  about  9%  P.  M.  but  the  baggage  is  but 
unloaded  and  the  horses  are  yet  to  come.  We  expect  to  get 
under  way  at  8  o'clock  this  (Friday)  morning  and  >shall  be  on 
the  water  some  7  to  10  days.  Our  destination  is  surely  Fort 
Pickens  to  reenforce  that  beleaguered  place.  We  might  have  been 
much  better  and  much  worse  pleased.  We  are  on  a  fine  staunch 
ocean  steamer,  and  shall  have  as  comfortable  quarters  and  fare 
as  we  could  ever  have  on  any  transport  ship."  7 

The  trip  was  an  uneventful  one,  although  there  was  a  good 
deal  of  seasickness;  excellent  meals  were  served.8  A  week  later 
"  We  dropped  anchor  at  a  quarter  before  six,  and  \vere  at  once 
boaided  by  an  officer  from  the  U.  S.  Steamship  Niagara  here 
on  blockading  duty.  .  .  .  We  have  to  land  in  small  boats 
through  the  surf,  and  shall  get  wet  feet  at  least.  The  Col.  has 
gone  ashore  to  report  to  Col.  Brown  commanding  here,  and  we 
shall  probably  begin  the  work  of  disembarkation  early  tomorrow. 
It  will  be  a  long  and  tedious  job,  as  all  our  heavy  luggage  has 
to  go  ashore  in  our  metallic  life  boats."  9  "  We  began  to  unload 
our  men  and  baggage  yesterday  [Saturday]  about  10  o'clock. 


3  On  board  Steamer  Alida.  May  19,   1861. 

4  Baltimore,  Md.,  July  29,  1861. 

5  The  letter  was  written  about  1   a.  m. 

6  Governor's  island  where  the  Seventy-fifth  had  been  encamped  for  a  time. 

7  On  board  steamer  Baltic,  December  6,  1861.      (Letter  begun  December  5, 
1861.) 

8  "At   two   o'clock   P.    M.   the   gong   sounded    for   our    first   dinner   on   the 
Baltic  and  we  ranged  ourselves,  thirty  strong,  in  the  dining  room. 

We  had  soup,  fish,  roast  turkey,  duck  and  mutton,  vegetables  nice  and  plenty, 
pudding,  pies,  nuts,  raisins  and  everything  necessary  to  a  complete  dinner." 
On  board  steamer  Baltic,  December  6,  1861. 

9  Ibid.,  December  13,  1861.     (Letter  begun  December  6th.) 

3 


66  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  BABCOCK 

The  Col.  and  Lt.  Ool.  went  ashore  in  the  first  boat  and  left  me 
to  attend  to  the  disembarkation  of  men  and  stuff.  We  had  three 
of  the  Baltic  metallic  life  boats  and  a  couple  of  launches  from 
the  man  of  war  Niagara,  and  put  25  to  50  men  into  each  of  the 
boats.  The  Island  is  some  two  miles  from  us  where  we  began 
to  land  and  about  three  down  where  the  camp  is  to  be.  But  the 
whole  coast  is  lined  with  surf,  and  the  launches  soon  capsized 
and  most  of  the  boats  filled  with  water.  Several  guns  and  <some 
light  baggage  was  lost  and  we  were  soon  confined  to  our  own 
boats  which  landed  men  and  baggage  very  slowly.  We  got  some 
100  men  and  a  few  tents  on  .shore  by  dark.  .  ,.. ,  *  Since  break 
fast,  we  have  been  landing  baggage,  but  have  not  made  much 
of  a  beginning.  It  will  be  a  week  before  we  shall  be  settled  on 
land."  10 

Flat  boats  and  barges  had  to  be  collected  for  the  Teche  cam 
paign,11  since  there  were  innumerable  bayous  and  small  streams 
to  be  crossed,  and  the  Confederate  cavalry  opposing  the  advance 
invariably  burned  the  bridges  to  delay  the  march.  Pontoon 
bridges  were  used  for  the  larger  streams,  while  the  Union  engi 
neers  assisted  by  fatigue  parties  detailed  for  the  purpose  from 
the  main  force  became  very  expert  in  rebuilding  the  smaller 
structures  which  had  often  been  only  partially  wrecked  in  the 
haste  of  retreat. 

Some  of  the  river  steamers  used  for  transporting  troops  were 
in  bad  condition.  "  We  got  on  board  the  Omaha,  and  found  her 
the  slowest  boat  ever  run,  leaving  N.[ew]  O.  [rleans]  about  4% 
o'clock  and  reaching  this  place  [Donaldsonville]  about  7%  this 
morning.  I  had  a  good  sleep,  Col.  Van  [Petten]  and  I  lying 
down  in  the  cabin  on  our  blankets.  We  were  frightened  out  of 
a  'sound  sleep  once  by  a  rush  of  steam  as  if  the  steam  pipe  had 
burst,  and  we  ran  for  the  open  air  in  great  alarm,  only  to  slip 
back  quietly  to  bed  for  fear  others  would  laugh  as  we  did." 
In  the  course  of  an  inspection  tour  in  1864,  while  acting  as 
inspector  general  of  cavalry,  Department  of  the  Gulf,  Colonel 
Babccck  had  a  number  of  river  steamers  at  his  disposal  for  mov 
ing  regiments  from  place  to  place,  and  in  his  letters  he  shows 
conditions  on  some  of  them.  On  board  the  steamer  "  Luminary  " 
"  I  had  a  good  stateroom  and  nice  bed,  but  Oh !  Mosketoes !  I 


10  Steamer  Baltic  at  Santa  Rosa  island,  Florida,  December   14    (i.  e.   15) 
1861. 

11Brashear  City,  La.,  January  11,  1863. 
12  Donaldsonville,  La.,  July  27,  1863. 


TRANSPORTATION  67 

had  no  bar.  I  got  to  sleep,  however,  and  awoke  in  the  night  to 
find  my  hands  and  wrists  smarting  furiously,  and  my  finger 
joints  appearing  to  be  swollen.  This  did  not  spoil  my  sleep,  and 
in  the  morning  I  was  all  right." 

He  had  been  at  Baton  Rouge  inspecting  the  regiments  there 
and  was  ready  to  return  down  the  river.  "  The  Mittie  Stephens 
had  steam  up,  and  I  got  on  to  her,  with  a  miscellaneous  crowd 
of  spies,  smugglers,  Jews,  and  perhaps  others,  and  came  slowly 
down  the  river.  The  'Mittie  is  a  Coast  Packet,  and  stops  at  any 
plantation  or  place  where  a  white  flag  is  waved  to  take  on  pas 
sengers  or  freight.  We  dined  in  great  state  at  2  P.  M.  (for 
50  cts)  and  before  three  I  got  off  at  Hermitage  Plantation."  14 

About  two  weeks  later  he  was  ordered  to  rejoin  his  regiment, 
now  attached  to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  embarked  on  the 
steamer  Arago.  "  Daylight  found  us  somewhere  above  the  Forts 
[Jackson  and  St.  Philip  below  New  Orleans]  and  we  only 
reached  the  bar  at  2  P.  M.,  just  in  time  to  stick  on  it.  Here 
we  lay,  the  horses  suffering  intensely  from  heat,  until  the  tele 
graph  could  summon  assistance  for  us  from  1ST.  O.  About 
noon  on  Saturday,  one  tug  arrived  and  added  her  efforts  to  ours, 
but  to  no  purpose.  During  the  P.  M.  several  tugs  came  down, 
but  nothing  could  be  done  until  Sunday,  as  the  tide  is  at  flood 
there  at  noon  now.  Early  on  Sunday,  the  men  15  were  transshipped 
011  one  of  the  tugs  and  six  other  tugs  began  to  haul  on  us.  Just 
as  we  had  given  it  up,  we  floated  about  1  P.  M.  and  by  the  time 
we  had  finished  our  dinner  (we  dine  at  2  P.  M.)  the  ship  was 
rolling  so  as  to  disturb  us  a  good  deal.  .  .  . 

"  The  vessel  is  very  dirty,  the  table  is  illy  spread,  and  the 
viands  are  badly  prepared.  We  do  little  at  table  but  just  satisfy 
a  feeble  demand  of  hunger  and  grumble. 

"At  our  table  is  'Gen.  Orover,  whom  I  like  better,  Dr.  and 
Mrs.  Hoffman  who  are  both  agreeable,  cultivated  people,  Mrs. 
H[essel-tine]  and  Mrs.  Merritt,  Mr.  Sayre  and  myself, —  no 
others.  There  are  no  other  ladies.  There  is  little  ice  on  board, 
no  water  except  from  a  leaky  condenser  which  yields  salt  water, 
there  are  no  fruits,  the  ship  is  crowded,  the  men  and  horses  are 
on  a  short  allowance  of  water  and  so  everything  conspires  to 
make  us  measurably  cross  and  uncomfortable."  16 

13  New  Orleans,  La.,  June  30,  1864. 

14  New  Orleans,  La.,  July  12,  1864. 

15  Grover's  division  of  the  Nineteenth  Army  Corps  was  on  board. 

16  On  board  Steamer  Arago,  July  30,   1864, 


68  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  BABCOCK 

Baggage  and  supplies  ordinarily  followed  the  army  on  wagons 
drawn  by  four  horses  or  mules.17  There  was  always  danger  of 
a  cavalry  raid  to  capture  the  wagon  train,  as  it  was  long  and 
moved  slowly.  Troops  of  course  guarded  it,  but  the  force 
detailed  for  convoy  duty  was  usually  comparatively  small,  and 
the  loss  to  the  army  of  its  wagon  train  was  a  serious  blow.  Teams 
were  often  commandeered  or  utilized  to  carry  troops  from  one 
place  to  another.  "Fortified  by  a  good  breakfast,  we  stepped 
ashore  at  Barre's  Landing  at  eight  o'clock  Wednesday  morning. 
The  troops  were  nearly  all  gone  and  I  could  hear  no  word  of 
my  horse  or  saddle.  Daniel  found  the  old  white  horse  he  had 
ridden  and  we  soon  got  two  carts,  a  one-mule  cart  in  which  Dr. 
Bacon  got  with  negro  driver,  and  a  threer-mule  cart  into  which 
Wrotnowski,  Lieuts.  Snow  and  Sanborn  1st  Me  Bat.,  Dr.  Bene 
dict  and  I  got,  with  our  baggage.  Dr.  Benedict  drove  and  won 
great  applause  by  the  manner  in  which  he  turned  the  latent 
strength  of  our  three  mules  to  account.  Starting  a  little  after 
nine,  we  reached  Washington  about  noon,  inquiring  everywhere 
for  our  brigade,  and  no  one  seemed  to  know  where  it  was.  Just 
out  of  Washington  we  lunched  and  watered  our  mules.  Seven 
miles  beyond,  we  halted  an  hour  and  fed  our  mules  and  got  a 
good  rest.  .  .  .  Dr.  Bacon  amused  us  greatly  by  sending  word 
frequently  into  the  houses  as  we  passed  t  Give  my  compliments 
to  your  master  and  tell  him  Hurra  for  Lincoln !  '  He  is  very 
bitter  toward  the  rebels.  Our  mules  began  to  go  tired,  but  we 
pushed  ahead  as  fast  as  we  could  until  by  sunset  we  came  up 
with  Grover  and  General  Banks' s  Head  Quarters,  six  miles  short 
of  Holmesville.  Here  Dr.  Ba,con  stopped.  We  took  supper  with 
Col.  Dwight.  I  got  a  fresh  pony  for  Daniel  to  ride,  and  Dr. 
Benedict  found  three  fresh  mules  for  our  cart.  I  looked  through 
Grover' s  Division  but  found  nothing  of  horse  or  saddle. 

" About  eight  o'clock  we  started  off  fresh  expecting  to  catch 
the  brigade  by  a  20  mile  ride,  but  passing  Holmesville  and  Gen. 
Emory  two  or  three  miles  beyond  it,  we  still  had  20  miles  to 
go,  long  long  miles,  I  tell  you.  However,  we  accomplished  it  by 
two  o'clock  —  and  came  upon  Gen.  Weitzel's  pickets."1 

Thus  the  transportation  problem  was  solved,  poorly  at  times, 
and  with  many  delays,  but  with  increasing  efficiency  as  the  war 
progressed,  and  the  organization  for  handling  it  rounded  into 
form. 


"  Baltimore,  Md.,  July  29,  1861.     Alexandria,  La.,  May  13,  1863. 
18  Alexandria,  La.,  May  9,  1863. 


CHAPTER  VI 

ORGANIZATION 

TROOPS  (PERSONNEL) 

In  the  formation  of  volunteer  regiments,  all  sorts  and  condi 
tions  of  men  were  thrown  together  through  the  arbitrary  assign 
ment  to  the  regiment,  of  companies  coming  from  different  parts 
of  the  State.  The  officers  naturally  came  in  closer  contact  with 
one  another  than  did  the  men  of  a.  regiment,  since  there  were 
only  three  commissioned  officers  to  each  company  of  a  hundred 
men.  Special  drills  and  officers'  schools  brought  them  together 
constantly  for  a  common  purpose'.  Thus  it  was  important  that 
there  should  be  the  least  possible  friction  among  those  who  would 
have  to  cooperate  in  making  an  efficient  regiment. 

When  Company  H  arrived  in  Albany  and  was  assigned  to  the 
Third  Regiment,  Colonel  Townsend  took  the  officers  to  the  bar 
racks  and  introduced  them  to  their  fellow  officers.1  After  the 
formal  organization  of  the  regiment  they  began  to  get  better 
acquainted  with  each  other  through  their  barrack  life.  "  Our 
officers  are  really  a  fine  lot  of  fellows  of  very  good  habits  in  the 
main. 

"  I  like  Col.  Tfownsend].  He  is  one  of  your  born  aristocrats 
but  has  seen  service  enough,  and  the  world  enough,  to  be  an 
agreeable  man.  He  made  an  overland  trip  to  California  several 
years  ago,  and  knows  what  hardship  is."  In  spite  of  this  glow 
ing  statement  at  the  beginning,  friction  'soon  developed  and 
traits  of  character  began  to  show  which  had  not  appeared  at 
first.  Late  in  June,  Colonel  Townsend  received  an  offer  of  a 
commission  in  one  of  the  regiments  of  regulars,  and  went  to 
Washington  to  obtain  the  appointment.3  "  We  are  having  quite  a 
ferment  in  our  Regiment  about  field  officers.  Col.  Townsend 
has  at  last  given  us  official  notice  of  his  having  left  us  perma 
nently.  The  Colonelcy,  of  course,  is  left  vacant.  The  Lieutenant 
Col.  Alford,  is  very  obnoxious  to  us  all,  and  yet  we  found  our 
selves  in  such  a  condition  that  we  were  obliged  to  recommend 
him  for  appointment  to  the  Colonelcy,  and  he  has  gone  to  Albany 
to  get  the  appointment.  He  will  come  back,  no  doubt,  Col.  of 

1  Diary,  April  28,   1861. 

2  Albany,  N.  Y.,  May  7,  1861. 

8  Camp 'Hamilton,  Va.,  June  21,   1861.      (Letter  begun  June  20th.) 

[69] 


70  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  BABCOCK 

the  Regiment.  Meantime,  in  default  of  Col.,  Lt.  Col.  and  Major, 
we  are  commanded  by  Capt.  Abel  Smith  Jr.  of  Brooklyn  who  is 
Senior  Captain.  We  are  in  a,  muss  aibout  whom  we  will  have 
for  Major.  We  have  recommended  Capt.  Smith  for  Lt.  Col. 
and  he  will  make  us  a  fine  officer.  If  Col.  Alford,  who  is  a 
sot,  could  be  got  rid  of,  we  should  feel  quite  well. 

"  Now,  we  all  feel  quite  ill.  Catlin  [captain  of  Company  H] 
wants  to  be  Major,  but  can't  make  any  show  for  it.  Col.  Alford 
will  be  gone  a  week,  during  which  time,  we  are  not  likely  to 
move  from  here,  except  for  picket  duty."  4  The  demoralization 
of  the  regiment  increased  until  there  was  talk  of  disbanding  it 
on  August  15,  1861,  when  its  three  months  of  service  was  com 
pleted,  but  no  action  for  this  purpose  was  taken.  Instead,  when 
the  mutiny  of  August  15th  occurred,  General  Dix  as  commander 
of  the  troops  acted  promptly,  arresting  the  noncommissioned 
officers  and  threatening  to  turn  the  artillery  on  the  mutineers. 

"  We  had  a  serious  time  yesterday  morning  which  had  like 
to  have  had  a  tragic  ending.  For  some  weeks  our  men  have 
talked  of  claiming  their  discharge  on  the  14th  inst.  their  three 
months  being  up  then,  on  the  ground  that  the  IT.  S.  only  recog 
nizes  volunteers  for  three  months  and  three  years,  and  we  being 
enrolled  for  two  years  must  be  treated  as  three  months  troops. 
But  there  had  been  so  much  talk  that  it  was  finally  a  good  deal 
laughed  at,  and  when  I  went  to  bed  on  Wednesday  night  I  had 
no  idea  of  waking  upon  Thursday  the  15th  in  the  midst  of  a 
mutiny.  But  so  it  chanced.  I  awoke  about  5  o'clock  (the 
reveille  was  not  beaten  at  half  past  four  for  want  of  drumsticks 
which  the  drummer  alleged  had  been  stolen)  and  having  a  head 
ache  and  being  in  a  profuse  perspiration  with  occasional  chills 
I  concluded  not  to  get  up  until  breakfast  time  though  I  felt 
very  well.  I  heard  the  order  '  Fall  in  for  roll  call !  '  to  which 
only  four  of  our  company  besides  the  new  recruits  answered. 
Soon  Capt.  Catlin  came  in  to  borrow  a  pistol  and  told  me  the 
men  were  refusing  to  fall  in.  Of  course  I  got  up  and  dressed 
as  quick  as  I  could,  and  found  Capt.  C.  had  about  a  dozen  in 
line.  With  my  assistance  and  the  muzzle  of  a  huge  pistol  which 
he  presented  to  them  all  that  yet  remained  in  the  quarters  were 
got  into  line  —  about  20.  Some  companies  had  more,  some  less, 
some  none.  We  moved  the  sick,  cooks,  servants  and  loyal  ones 
off  the  ground  to  the  left  of  the  camp  and  finally  around  on 

4 Ibid.,  July  9,  1861.      (Letter  begun  July  8th.) 


ORGANIZATION  71 

the  parade  ground  in  front  of  the  Fort.  A  field  piece  was 
brought  to  bear  on  the  mutineers.  'Gen.  Dix  visited  them  and 
soon  had  them  all  in  line.  By  this  time  however  it  was  nine 
o'clock  and  we  were  all  as  hungry  as  bears.  .  .  .  Last  night  there 
was  a  very  good  state  of  feeling  in  camp,  and  I  think  the  men 
were  enough  ashamed  of  their  prank,  and  far  enough  satisfied 
with  Gen.  Dix's  determination  to  have  discipline  so  that  there 
will  be  no  more  trouble.  Gen.  Dix  made  a  short  speech  to  them, 
read  the  articles  of  war  applicable  to  the  case,  arrested  the  non 
commissioned  officers  engaged  in  it  and  committed  them  for  trial. 
No  mention  of  it  has  got  into  the  Baltimore  papers  yet,  and  I 
presume  it  will  not  be  heard  of  except  by  means  of  private  letters, 
an  unusually  large  number  of  which  were  written  and  sent. 

"  Some  of  our  men  grumbled  very  much  to  have  a,  loaded 
pistol  presented  at  their  heads,  but  I  think  the  spectacle  will 
not  harm  them.  There  are  no  signs  of  insubordination  now." 
"  I  had  about  as  lief  go  to  jail  as  undertake  the  command  of 
any  company  in  this  regiment,  so  utterly  demoralized  are  the 
men."  6  "  There  are  but  12  or  15  officers  out  of  30  in  all,  now 
present  fit  for  duty, —  not  enough  to  furnish  all  the  companies 
with  a  commissioned  [officer]  to  command  on  parades  and 
drills."  7 

Colonel  Babcock  came  in  closer  touch  with  the  officers  of  the 
Seventy-fifth  New  York,  howeveir,  than  with  those  of  the  Third 
regiment,  both  on  account  of  his  rank  and  by  reason  of  his  longer 
term  of  service  in  it.  His  first  impression  of  them  was  wholly 
favorable.  "  I  am  charmed  with  our  officers  —  They  improve 
upon  acquaintance.  There  is  not  a  rowdy  or  a  snob  among  them 
and  some  of  them  are  remarkably  genial,  agreeable  men.  This 
surgeon,  Dr.  Benedict  of  Skaneateles  is  a  well  read  social,  jovial 
man  who  attends  conscientiously  to  all  his  duties  and  has  the 
crowning  virtue  of  Abou  Ben  Adhem.  He  is  an  old  abolitionist 
who  has  escaped  fanatiscism.  i'1'.  .  Dr.  Powers,  the  Assistant 
Surgeon  is  another  warm-hearted  genial  soul  who  loves  such  books 
as  I  do,  and  reads  a  great  deal.  The  'Chaplain,  Mr.  Hudson  of 
Union  Springs,  knows  many  of  my  friends.  .  .  .  He  is 
a  quite,  conscientious  man  who  loves  his  fellow  men." 

5  Fort  McHenry,  August  16,  1861. 

6  Ibid.,  October  18,  1861. 

7  Ibid.,  October  20,  1861.      (Letter  begun  October  18th.) 

8  On  board  the  steamer  Baltic,  December  9,   1861.      (Letter  begun  Decem 
ber  6th.) 


72  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  BABCOCK 

. 

"  I  like  our  officers  and  regiment  better  and  better.  There  are 
nine  captains  and  all  high  minded  men,  some  of  them  remarkably 
fine  specimens  of  manhood.  I  like  best  Capt.  D wight,  County 
Judge  of  Cayuga  Co.,  Capt.  McDougall  a  young  Scotchman,  a 
banker  in  Auburn,  and  Capt.  Porter  a  Methodist  clergyman.9 
The  Chaplain  pleases  me  much,  and  the  surgeon  and  assistant 
surgeon  are  men  whom  it  is  worth  while  to  know.  Col.  Dodge 
is  a  strange,  taciturn  man,  possibly  a  little  jealous  in  his  disposi 
tion,  but  a  man  of  integrity,  energy  and  pride  of  character.  The 
Lieut.  Col.  Merritt,  is  a  fellow  of  considerable  force  and  fair 
character."  10 

As  the  regiment  approached  its  destination  of  Santa  Rosa 
island,  Florida,  the  officers  began  to  speculate  on  the  character 
and  personality  of  the  officers  with  whom  they  would  come  in 
contact  there,  from  the  regulars,  and  from  the  Sixth  regiment 
of  New  York  Volunteers.  "  Col.  Wilson's  officers  are  said  to 
be  a  fine  gentlemanly  set  of  men,  and  regard  us  in  the  same 
favorable  light,  so  we  shall  get  on  well  together."  n  The  two  regi 
ments  did  not  have  any  difficulties  with  each  other,  for  each  was 
a  unit  in  itself,  and  they  were  not  put  under  brigade  regulations 
for  several  months.  The  officers  and  men  of  the  Sixth  regiment, 
however,  were  continually  getting  into  trouble,  and  courts-martial 
were  held  very  often  for  the  trial  of  offenders.  Major  Newby 
of  that  organization  showed  his  character  in  a  shooting  affray 
which  occurred  on  March  2,  186!2i.  "  He  has  figured,  so  report 
says,  as  a  professional  gambler  in  California,  as  an  officer  in 
Nicaraugua  under  Walker,  and  as  a  lawyer  at  home.  He  is  now 
a  very  good  looking  fellow  with  white  skin,  black  hair  and  a 
waxed  moustache  a  la  Napoleon."  12 

Friction  developed  in  the  Seventy-fifth,  also,  partly  as  a  result 
of  promises  which  had  been  made  to  another  officer  of  securing 
the  position  of  major  in  the  regiment,  and  partly  on  account  of 
the  character  of  Colonel  Dcdge.  "I  learn  from  Capt.  Mac- 
Dougall  .  .  .  who  is  the  Captain  of  'A'  company,  a,  banker,  a 

9  Charles    C.    Dwight,    captain    of    Company    D ;    Clinton    D.    MacDougall, 
captain    of   Company  A.    (Major   Babcock    in   his   letters    spells   this    man's 
name    "  McDougall.")  ;    and    Lansing    Porter,    captain    of    Company    I.      This 
information   has   been    obtained   from   a   printed   list   of   the    officers   of   the 
Seventy-fifth    New    York    which    had    'been    cut    out    and    pasted    inside    the 
cover  of  the  diary  for  1862. 

10  On  board  the  steamer  Baltic,  December  13,  1861.     (Letter  begun  Decem 
ber  6th.) 

"Steamer  Baltic  at  Santa  Rosa  island,  Florida,  December  14   [15],   1861. 
12  Santa  Rosa  island,  Florida,  March  3,  1862. 


ORGANIZATION  73 

smart  business  man,  a  man  who  has  '  traveled/  a  gentleman  and 
a  fine  officer,  that  he  was  promised  the  position  of  Major  in  the 
Regiment  by  Col.  Dodge  fairly  and  squarely.  ...  He  seems 
to  like  me  and  I  am  sure  I  take  to  him.  He  is  a  frank,  manly 
fellow  who  loves  and  hates  as  strongly  as  one  can.7' 13  The  feel 
ing  against  Colonel  Dodge  gradually  increased  as  shown  by  pas 
sages  in  successive  letters,  as  little  incidents  occurred.14 

"  I  am  not  so  much  annoyed  at  what  affects  me,  after  all,  as 
I  am  by  his  infernal  native  meanness.  His  one  great  ruling 
characteristic  is  'Selfishness.  Nothing  is  too  good  for  him  in  the 
way  of  eating,  drinking,  bodily  comforts,  and  he  would  be  for 
ever  unhappy  if  any  neighbor  had  a  thing  which  he  had  not. 
At  table  he  is  so  mean  that  he  will  not,  unless  asked,  pass  a 
dish  or  help  a  neighbor  to  the  least  thing.  And  he  never  dis 
guises  his  passion,  for  he  has  no  idea  how  it  looks  or  what  it  is. 
He  talks  very  little  —  proof  of  wisdom  —  doubly  strong  in  him, 
for  he  knows  comparatively  little.  ...  I  have  come  to  disre 
spect  him  very  thoroughly."  15  'Colonel  Dodge  wTas  found  hiding 
behind  one  of  the  tents  listening  to  private  conversation  among 
a  group  of  officers  one  evening,  and  this  act  did  a  great  deal  to 
crystallize  the  feeling  against  him.  He  finally  resigned  in  July 
1862,16  and  the  tension  decreased  from  that  time. 

The  regiment  was  formed  into  a  brigade  with  the  Sixth  regi 
ment  in  'March,  and  placed  under  the  command  of  Brigadier 
General  Arnold,  who  had  succeeded  Colonel  Brown  as  command 
ant  at  Fort  Pickens.  "  General  Arnold  seems  to  be  a  humane 
officer  and  a  judicious  commander.  He  affords  us  all  possible 
facilities  for  shelter  and  rest  and  looks  after  health  and  com 
fort  as  well  as  military  discipline.  Our  summer,  so  far,  at  least, 
as  officers  are  concerned,  will  be  very  comfortable."  17  This  officer 
was  a  very  active  man,  and  chafed  at  the  delay  in  attacking 
Pensacola  on  account  of  the  lack  of  boats  to  carry  his  troops 
to  the  mainland.  Rumors  were  rife  on  the  island  that  expedi 
tions  were  to  be  sent  out  a  number  of  times,  and  he  urged  Gen 
eral  Butler  at  Ship  island  to  send  him  boats  for  the  attack,  but 
the  attempt  was  never  made.  He  organized  his  men  into  an 

13  Santa  Rosa  island,  Florida,  January  3,  1861    (i.  e.  1862). 
14/6id.,  December  25,   1861.      (Letter  begun  December  20th.) 
Ibid.,  December  28,   1861.      (Letter  begun  December  26th.) 
15 Ibid.,  February  1,  1862.     (Letter  began  January  31st.) 

16  Hall,  "A  Record  of  the  75th  N.  Y.  Volunteers."    In  Cayuga  in  the  Field, 
part  2,  p.  53. 

17  Santa  Rosa  island,  Florida,  May  2,  1862.      (Letter  begun  May  1st.) 


74  LETTERS  OP  GENERAL  BABCOCK 

efficient  force,  and  trained  them  in  all  forms  of  offensive 
operations.18 

On  December  16,  1862,  Major  General  Banks  took  command 
of  the  Department  of  the  Gulf,19  succeeding  General  Butler,  and 
shortly  afterwards  the  army  moved  up  the  Teche.  There  is  a 
good  deal  of  difference  of  opinion  as  to  the  success  of  this  cam 
paign,  and  its  object,  but  the  letters  take  the  view  that  it  was 
a  failure.  "  Gen.  Banks  is  very  unpopular,  at  least  he  seems  so. 
In  our  Brigade,  he  is  voted  ineligible  to  the  presidency,  and 
couldn't  get  a  score  of  votes.  I  don't  go  much  on  him  myself."  20 
"  He  tries  to  be  popular  with  the  soldiers,  but  has  not  their  con 
fidence.  Gen.  Weitzel  is  the  pet  of  the  troops."  21  "I  was  very 
glad  to  have  Col.  Dwight  join  us,  for  there  will  be  at  least  one 
sensible  man  on  Gen.  Banks's  staff.  His  staff  officers  seem  to 
be  very  unpopular  everywhere,  supercilious  as  the  Devil.  Major 
Carpenter,  however,  must  now  be  excepted,  as  he  is  Chief  Quar 
ter  Master  of  the  Expedition  and  so  is  on  the  staff  of  the  Com 
manding  General.'7  22 

General  Banks  conducted  several  campaigns  with  more  or  less 
success  during  the  year  of  1863,  and  the  early  part  of  1864, 
but  his  control  over  affairs  lessened  gradually.23  In  March  1864, 
came  the  Red  river  campaign  and  the  disastrous  retreat.  This 
expedition  completed  his  failure  as  a  general  in  command  of  a 
department,  although  he  was  not  superseded  until  late  in  1864. 
Colonel  Dwight  was  sent  to  the  mouth  of  Red  river  to  meet 
Confederate  commissioners  and  arrange  for  an  exchange  of 
prisoners,  in  August  1864,  and  the  officer  from  Mobile  asked 
him  "  '  But  what  has  become  of  General  Banks,  has  he  any  com 
mand  nowadays  ? '  '  Oh  Yes.  He  commands  the  department  of 
the  Gulf.'  I  did  not  say  '  in  a  horn  '  nor  l  super  sinistram  '."  24 


18 W.  Babcock  to  "Friend  Harry"  Wells  (?)  of  the  Owego  Times  (?). 
Santa  Rosa  island,  Florida,  March  13,  1862. 

19  Diary,  December  10,   1862. 

20  Franklin,  La.,  April  16,  1SG3.      (Letter  begun  April  14th.) 

21  Near  Opelousas,  La.,  April  22,  1863. 

22  Ibid.,  April  24,   1863. 

"Affairs  [at  Port  Hudson]  are  badly  managed.  The  most  intimate  and 
influential  friends  of  Banks  are  mere  adventurers,  not  in  the  service  of  the 
Government  except  as  Gen.  Banks  employs  them.  The  officers  by  whom  he 
seems  to  set  most  store  have  not  the  confidence  of  those  who  know  them 
best.  Banks  himself  is  very  unpopular  with  all  except  Massachusetts  troops, 
and  I  do  not  think  he  has  the  confidence  of  anybody."  Port  Hudson,  La., 
July  4,  1863. 

23  New  Orleans,  La.,  June  30,  1864. 

24  Colonel  Dwight  to  Colonel  Babcock,  New  Orleans,  La.,  August  24,  1864. 


GENERAL  BANKS 


ORGANIZATION  75 

Some  time  previously,   Colonel  Babcock  wrote  "  The  gossip   is 
that  Dana  is  to  command  the  Department  of  the  Gulf  soon  — 
Can  this  hi1  true '(     Banks  is  gone  up,  surely,  and  cannot  remain 
many  weeks  if  signs  do  not  fail. 

"  By  the  bye,  has  the  last  epigram  on  Banks  reached  the  mouth 
of  White  River?  It  is  believed  here  to  be  as  well  put  as  many 
which  have  seen  print. 

"  'Tis  said  that  Banks  has  grown  profane, 
For  once  he  dammed  Red  River; 
But  in  return,  that  vengeful  stream 
Has  damned  poor  Banks  forever !  "  25 

Perhaps  it  may  be  fitting  to  conclude  this  part  of  the  study 
dealing  with  the  officers  with  whom  Colonel  Babcock  came  in 
contact,  by  giving  six  "  traits  "  or  character  sketches  which  were 
jotted  down  in  the  front  of  the  diary  for  1862.  The  first  of 
these  describes  Robert  0.  Perry  of  Tarrytown,  N.  Y. 

"A  slight  little  fellow,  nice,  and  even  finical  in  dress,  au  fait 
in  the  usages  of  polite  society,  thoroughly  read  in  everything 
merely  literary,  with  refined  taste  in  literary  criticism,  in  ladies' 
dresses  and  in  the  modes  of  the  tailor. 

"  He  is  modest,  careful  of  the  feelings  of  others,  full  of  humor 
and  good  humor,  and  has  a  memory  which  enables  him  to  tell 
a  story  or  two  apropos  to  any  subject  of  conversation.  He  don't 
like  the  common  people,  and  loves  literature  for  its  own  sake 
rather  than  for  its  humanizing  influences  on  the  ruder  classes. 
He  has  too  much  regard  for  the  feelings  of  others  to  be  a 
reformer,  but  a  more  genial  companion  could  hardly  be.  He  is 
30  years  old,  5  feet  inches  high,  has  black  hair  and  eyes, 

speaks  quick  and  stammers  a  little.  He  is  Military  Sec'y  at 
Hd.  Qrs.  and  is  5th  Sergt,  in  Co.  '  I V 

The  subject  of  the  second  is  Dr  Benedict  of  Skaneateles,  !N".  Y. 

"  Dr.  B.  is  a  large,  rather  corpulent  fleshy  man  whose  pre 
vailing  style  of  thought  is  severe.  He  is  one  of  the  surly  Anti- 
slavery  and  Temperance  reformers,  and,  though  not  at  all  in 
keeping  with  his  habits  of  thought,  this  has  made  him  a  skeptic 
in  religious  matters.  He  appreciates  humor,  likes  a  joke  at  the 
expense  of  others,  but  not  at  his  own,  and  never  hesitates  to 
speak  his  mind  on  account  of  the  feelings  of  his  hearers.  He 

25  Colonel  Babcock  to  General  [Lee  (?)].  New  Orleans,  La.,  July  17, 
1864. 


76  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  BABCOCK 

persists  in  ignoring  the  rank  of  his  associates,  shakes  hands  with 
officers  and  privates  alike  in  his  daily  duties  as  surgeon,  and 
sends  his  compliments  to  the  '  Sergeant  of  the  Guard '  as  quick 
as  to  the  General  Commanding. 

"  He  dresses  well,  practices  the  domestic  virtues,  and  once 
turned  a  friend  out  of  doors  for  boasting  of  a  piece  of  financial 
slight  of  hand. 

"  He  is  Surgeon  of  the  75th  N.  Y.  Vols." 

"  Dr.  P.  [owers]  is  a  pale,  mild,  genial  man  who  has  read 
nearly  everything,  travelled  all  over  this  continent,  collected 
rare  books,  coins,  curiosities  in  natural  history,  autographs  and 
the  Lord  knows  what  else.  He  smokes  incessantly,  likes  a  social 
glass  with  a  friend,  looks  on  the  dark  side  of  things,  but  croaks 
so  pleasantly  as  to  give  nobody  the  blues,  and  knows  a  great 
fund  of  stories  of  himself  and  others  which  he  tells  with  much 
humor  and  grace.  Rather  a  reformer  in  his  social  and  religious 
notions,  he  disturbs  nobody  in  their  own.  He  writes  readable 
letters  for  the  newspapers,  and  scientific  articles  for  the  medical 
journals.  A  kind,  hospitable  gentleman  whose  temper  and 
deportment  will  not  allow  him  an  enemy,  and  whose  talent  and 
culture  are  almost  wasted  as  Ass't  Surgeon  of  the  75th 
K  Y.  V." 

The  next  sketch  is  of  Lewis  E.  Carpenter,  of  Auburn,  N.  Y., 
quartermaster  of  the  regiment,  and  one  of  Colonel  Babcock's 
best  friends  during  the  war. 

"A  rough,  ungraceful  body  a  little  under  medium  height,  light 
hair  and  sandy  beard,  a  full  face  broken  into  by  the  loss  of  an 
arch  in  the  bridge  of  his  nose,  pertain  to  my  friend  L.  E.  C. 

"He  is  thoroughly  acquainted  with  the  literature  and  prac 
tices  of  the  sporting  world,  has  visited  London,  Paris  and  San 
Francisco,  but  has  never  shed  his  awkward  manners.  Yet  he 
is  a  true  gentleman  and  an  honest  man,  and  kindliness  warms 
his  face  and  polishes  his  ways. 

"  Modest  even  to  bashfulness,  any  encroachment  on  his  rights, 
or  an  act  of  meanness  or  oppression  brings  a  self-asserting  jerk 
to  his  head  which  must  not  be  trifled  with.  He  will  not  be  out 
done  if  he  can  help  it,  but  is  shrewd  and  cautious,  and  rarely 
commits  himself  rashly  to  anything.  Friendly  to  reforms,  he 
is  too  timid  to  be  a  reformer,  but  shines  as  a  genial  comrade  and 
a  faithful  man." 

Colonel  Dodge  is  described  as  aA  smallish  man,  below  medium 


ORGANIZATION  77 

size,  taciturn,  cunning,  jealous,  selfish  and  ill-bred.  He  has  a 
heart  open  by  nature  to  kindly  impulses,  but  he  has  been  buf 
feted  about  so  much  by  men,  and  so  broken  by  disease,  that  what 
was  meant  for  an  easy  nature  has  become  fitful,  morose  and 
hard.  When  pleasant,  he  is  very  complaisant,  but  when  out 
of  humor  he  will  treat  friends  and  strangers  alike  with  great 
rudeness,  and  when  asked  the  commonest  questions  of  business 
or  civility  will  stand  stock  still  or  blurt  out  a  rude  reply.  His 
weak  side  is  reached  by  flattery,  and  he  has  great  pride  of 
appearance  and  opinion.  His  Regt.  gives  him  immense  impor 
tance  and  he  would  not  forego  the  command  of  it  for  anything. 
His  most  sensitive  point  is  the  fear  that  some  of  his  officers  will 
get  more  influence  than  himself.  He  would  keep  up  a  car  win 
dow  for  his  own  comfort  if  his  consumptive  neighbor  was  killed 
by  it." 

Brigadier  General  Lewis  Gr.  Arnold,  of  Boston,  commanding 
the  Department  of  Florida,  is  the  subject  of  the  last  of  these 
sketches. 

"  Bred  a  soldier  and  having  served  his  country  in  all  sorts 
of  warfare  he  is  fitted  by  experience  for  holding  an  important 
office.  He  is  small  and  seems  a  little  bent  out  of  shape  but  has 
quite  a  martial  air  on  his  horse,  which  he  sits  very  well.  His 
head  is  round,  his  face  mild  and  pleasant  and  the  glance  of  his 
round  black  eyes  very  genial.  He  has  a  habit  of  saying  very 
good  things  and  of  indicating  his  own  appreciation  of  them  by 
cocking  his  eye  at  his  listener. 

"  He  is  brave,  prudent,  ambitious,  active  and  cautious  at  once. 
He  is  a  good  disciplinarian,  without  being  severe,  and  strives, 
by  a  law  of  his  nature,  to  conciliate  and  please  all  of  his  officers. 
The  result  is  that  he  is  very  popular  with  all,  and  his  influence 
and  administration  could  hardly  be  bettered." 

Efficient  officers  make  efficient  troops,  and  in  general  the  men 
volunteering  for  service  in  the  ranks  of  the  Union  armies  were 
of  such  caliber  as  to  make  good  soldiers  with  proper  training. 
The  country  was  deeply  in  earnest,  and  meant  to  support  those 
in  charge  of  operations  to  the  end.  There  was  a  wild  furor  of 
enthusiasm  at  the  outset,  which  gradually  wore  off,  but  settled 
into  a  determination  to  crush  the  rebellion  at  any  cost.  All 
classes  of  men  came  forward  in  response  to  the  various  proclama 
tions  calling  for  troops.  "As  the  men  of  the  city  companies 
filed  in  to  eat,  with  short  hair,  dirty  clothes,  and  stolid,  brutal 


78  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  BABCOCK 

faces,  I  felt  sad  to  think  that  our  men  should  associate  together 
at  all  with  them.  .  .  .  Our  regiment  is  to  be  separated  as  soon 
as  may  be.  Our  company  is  universally  pronounced  to  be  one 
of  the  best  companies  yet  seen  in  Albany.  The  Col.  flatters  us 
very  much,  and  I  think  his  designs  are  such  as  to  make  it  for 
his  interest  to  deal  well  by  us."  26  "  The  Troy  regiment,  who  are 
a  set  of  thieves  and  marauders,  broke  open  the  church  [near 
which  the  force  supporting  a  reconnoitering  party  was  stationed] 
injured  the  organ  most  wantonly,  outraged  the  church  and  scat 
tered  the  books  all  about."  27 

The  New  York  regiments  were  weak  in  numbers,  and  sickness 
and  hard  work  soon  reduced  their  membership.28  "  They  [the 
men]  shirk  a  good  deal  from  the  daily  duty  of  camp.  This 
morning  I  was  quite  discouraged  at  the  shrinking  manifested, 
and  went  to  the  Ool.  He  came  down  to  the  quarters,  and  routed 
them  out  suddenly  so  that  we  got  a  good  turnout.'7  29  "  We  have 
attempted  to  make  arrangements  to  recruit  our  company  and  at 
least  fill  up  the  places  of  those  who  have  gone  home.  We  need 
15  or  20  good  plucky  men  to  make  cur  company  strong  enough 
to  hold  its  own.  We  are  getting  quite  well  enough  sifted  out 
now  so  that  we  could,  with  15  more  good  men,  get  on  easily. 
Weak  companies  have  more  work,  for  each  man,  to  do  than 
strong  ones."  30 

When  the  Third  regiment  moved  to  Fort  McHenry  it  was 
brought  in  contact  with  the  Eighth  Massachusetts.  "  They  were 
the  brave  boys  who  first  came  with  Gen.  Butler  to  Annapolis 
and  built  the  R,  R.  to  Washington.  In  their  ranks  is  Homans, 
the  engineer  who  found  and  recognized  his  own  handiwork  in 
the  mud  of  Maryland  and  rebuilt  and  restored  it  to  usefulness. 
Day  and  night  almost  without  food,  the  brave  fellows  worked 
and  marched  for  ten  days.  Of  all  this  they  had  a  thousand 
proud  stories  to  tell,  and  they  had  so  many  questions  to  ask 
about  the  Bethel  fight."  31  "  They  were  the  most  brightly  intel 
ligent  looking  soldiers  I  ever  saw,  and  I  especially  admired  their 
handsome  manly  officers,  as  I  saw  them  at  Dress  Parade  last 
night."  This  regiment,  however,  was  only  a  three  months 
regiment,  and  went  home  July  30th,  when  its  time  was  up. 

26  Albany,  N.  Y.,  April  28,   1861. 

27  Hampton,  Va.,  June  20,   1861. 

28  Ibid.,  June  19,  1861.      (Letter  begun  June  18th.) 

29  TMd.,  June  21,   1861.      (Letter  begun  June  20th.) 

30  Camp  Hamilton,  Va.,  July  18,  1861. 

31  Baltimore,  Md.,  July  29,  1861. 
82  Ibid. 


ORGANIZATION 


79 


As  the  war  dragged  on  enlistments  came  to  be  made  for  3 
years,  and  the  character  of  the  regiments  coming  to  the  front 
seems  to  have  changed  for  the  better.  The  Seventy-fifth  may 
perhaps  be  taken  as  a  type  of  these.  The  men  and  officers  who 
volunteered  for  this  regiment  came  with  a  sense  of  the  reality 
of  the  war  and  a  knowledge  of  its  hardships  and  dangers.  "  We 
have  a  superb  regiment, —  a  fine  bcdy  of  faithful,  patriotic  men 
and  officers  who  need  little  urging  to  do  their  duty  well.  If  the 
Col.  were  a  good  disciplinarian  and  a  decent  man,  we  should 
have  the  best  spirit  possible."  33  This  high  standard  was  main 
tained  all  through  the  war,  and  although  its  losses  were  heavy, 
it  was  still  a  crack  regiment.  In  the  course  of  the  campaign  in 
Virginia  Colonel  Babcock  wrote,  "  The  officers  here  are  all  doing 
first  rate  now,  are  faithful  and  willing  and  brave.  I  would 
rather  have  the  300  muskets  we  carry  in  battle  than  450  of  any 
other  troops  I  know,  in  spite  of  the  grumbling  of  our  men  at 


times." 


The  Sixth  regiment  of  New  York  Volunteers,  however,  com 
posed  of  men  from  Xew  York  City,  apparently  was  of  a  very 
low  standard  of  morality,  although  it  fought  well  in  battle.  "  It 
is  a  fine  Reg't,  but  though  it  has  been  in  the  service  over  a  year, 
it  is,  I  think,  inferior  to  ours  in  spirit  and  discipline."  "  Col. 
Wilson's  men  are  a  poor  set  of  sticks,  many  of  them  criminals 
and  many  of  them  drunkards.  Only  a  few  are  worth  knowing 
or  remembering.  One  of  them,  a  private,  was  caught  about  4 
this  morning  in  a  tent  near  which,  he  was  posted  as  a  sentinel, 
apparently  trying  to  find  a  watch  there  to  steal."  The  mem 
bers  of  this  regiment  were  a  constant  source  of  trouble  to  the 
provost  marshal  of  Pensacola,  also,  since  liquor  came  into  the 
port  by  the  ships  arriving,  and  all  sorts  of  riots  and  assaults 
took  place.  "  Yesterday  Col.  Billy  Wilson  went  to  Oakfields  on 
a  scout,  and  his  officers  and  men  plundered  an  old  man,  a  union 
man,  too,  of  over  $400  worth  of  watches,  money,  plate,  liquor 
&  etc.  which  we  have  been  trying  today  to  restore.  It  has  been 
a  great  mortification  to  us,  and  the  General  has  been  terribly 
angry  about  it.  He  gave  Col.  Wilson  a  tremendous  rating  this 
morning,  and  ordered  him  to  restore  everything  or  pay  for  it, 
and  punish  the  offenders.  We  shall  find  most  of  the  goods.  They 

33  Santa  Rosa  island,  Florida,  April  30,  1862.      (Letter  begun  April  25th.) 
3*Xear  Berryville,  Va.,   September  9,   1864. 

35  Santa  Rosa  island,  Florida,  April  30,  1862.      (Letter  begun  April  2oth.) 
™lbid.,  March  2,   1862. 


80  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  BABCOCK 

are  a  precious  set  of  thieves."  37  "  Oh  but  Billy  Wilson's  men 
are  the  very  flower  of  the  Dead  Rabbits,  the  creme  de  la  creme 
of  Bowery  society.  I  only  want  a  decent  excuse  to  shoot  one 
or  two.  I  have  one  in  irons,  and  him  and  one  other  in  the  City 
Jail  tonight  in  a  nice  snug  room."  38 

When  the  Seventy-fifth  arrived  in  New  Orleans  on  Sep 
tember  3,  1862,  General  Butler  was  busily  organizing  the  troops 
under  his  command  and  raising  new  forces.  "  He  has  a  negro 
regiment  nearly  full,  officered  by  negro  captains  and  lieutenants, 
under  the  command  of  Col.  Stafford.  They  are  said  to  be  fine 
looking  men,  and  as  Gen.  Butler  wittily  wrote  to  the  Secretary 
of  War,  i  will  not  average  a  deeper  color  than  the  late  Mr. 
Webster.'  He  has  one  fine  regiment  of  Louisiana  troops,  1st 
La.  Yols.  and  there  are  about  300  recruits  for  the  2nd  La.  Regt. 
now  in  this  depot.  Indeed  as  I  sit  on  my  balcony  to  write  these 
words,  T  am  almost  deafened  by  the  shoutings  of  the  drill  ser 
geants  who  are  teaching  some  dozen  or  more  of  squads  and  com 
panies  the  elements  of  tactics."  39  These  black  troops  showed 
their  mettle  before  Port  Hudson,  in  1863.  "  The  negro  troops, 
it  is  said,  really  won  some  fine  laurels  a  few  nights  ago.  Between 
them  and  the  rebels  lay  three  ravines  occupied  by  the  rebel 
pickets,  which  the  negroes  determined  to  possess.  The  rebels 
rallied  in  force  and  met  them,  in  desperate  fight.  The  sick  and 
convalescent  of  the  negroes,  even  on  crutches  they  say,  turned 
out  and  pitched  in  and  fought  like  the  best  soldiers,  finally  driv 
ing  in  the  rebels  over  two-thirds  of  the  distance  and  holding  the 
ground  gained.  Everybody  ( .  .  . )  speaks  in  the  highest  terms 
of  them  now,  and  soon  there  will  be  but  one  opinion  of  the  black 
soldiers."  40 

Such  was  the  personnel  of  the  regiments  with  which  Colonel 
Babcock  came  in  contact,  in  his  four  years  of  army  life,  and 
although  he  may  have  been  a  harsh  judge  of  character  in  certain 
cases,  he  was  in  a  position  to  value  conduct  with  a  fair  degree 
of  accuracy. 


37  Pensacola,  Fla.,  July  28,  18>62.      (Letter  begun  July  23d.) 
MlUd.,  August  5,  1862.      (Letter  begun  August  3d.) 

89  Steamer    Ocean    Grove,    and    New    Orleans,    La.,    September    4,     1862. 
(Letter  begun  September  2d.) 
40  Port  Hudson,  La.,  July   1,   1863. 


ORGANIZATION  81 

EQUIPMENT 

Very  little  is  said  in  the  letters,  concerning  the  equipment 
which  was  furnished  to  the  men,  either  clothing  or  arms.  "  This 
morning  we  distributed  shirts,  drawers,  and  caps  to  them,  and 
with  the  bracing  air  and  beautiful  sunshine,  they  are  as  happy 
as  can  be."  41  Uniforms  likewise  were  issued,  but  many  of  them 
were  of  poor  quality  and  did  not  last  any  length  of  time  with 
hard  usage.  About  the  middle  of  July  Lieutenant  Babcock 
writes,  "  Colonel  Alford  returned  last  night  from  Albany  with 
promises  that  our  Regt.  shall  have  new  uniforms  throughout, 
shoes,  stockings,  shirts,  and  overclothes.  With  these  we  shall  be 
quite  proud  and  comfortable. "  42  "About  the  clothing  [while 
at  Camp  Hamilton]  it  was  all  true.  Partly  it  was  the  fault  of 
the  soldiers  themselves,  and  no  man  need  have  been  naked.  But 
soldiers  are  children,  and  when  their  garments  gave  out,  they 
would  curse  the  maker  and  give  them  an  extra  rip  instead  of 
a  mending.  The  result  was  that  they  lost  care  and  pride,  and 
the  Troy  Regt.  2nd,  Col.  Carr,  was  in  a  very  bad  iix.  Many  men 
had  no  pants  and  did  duty  in  drawers  and  barefooted.  Many 
had  only  a  dirty  Havelock  to  wear  on  their  heads.  Our  Regt. 
having  a  neater  colored  uniform  (dark  blue  jacket  and  light 
blue  pants)  had  more  pride  and  took  better  care  of  their  clothes. 
Still  .some  of  ours  were  barefooted  and  even  some  had  no 
pants."  43 

The  officers  evidently  had  to  furnish  their  own  equipment. 
"  I  bought  my  soldiers  cap  and  ordered  a  pair  of  soldier  pants. 
My  dress  will  consist  when  complete  of  a  frock  coat,  blue,  with 
gilt  buttons,  close  and  straight  in  front.  My  pants  will  also  be 
of  dark  blue,  full  and  long,  with  a  green  welt  on  the  outside  of 
each  leg.  The  military  overcoat  is  a  sort  of  coat  with  a  cape  of 
blue  with  gilt  buttons.  ...  I  have  no  sword  yet.  Do  not  know 
when  or  where  it  is  to  be  had !  "  44 

"  I  get  back  to  camp  about  1  P.  M.  and  found  the  boys  with 
blankets  strapped,  knapsacks,  haversacks,  canteens,  etc.,  all  on, 
being  inspected!  Soon  after  this  the  Rifles  came  and  I  have 
been  hard  at  work  ever  since  preparing  and  distributing  the 

41  Albany  Barracks,  N.  Y.,  May  5,  1861. 

42  Camp  Hamilton,  Va.,  July  18,   1861. 

It  is  rather  interesting  to  note  that  these  new  uniforms  came  from  the 
State  of  Xew  York,  and  not  the  United  States. 

43  Baltimore,   Md.,  July  30,   1861.      (Letter  begun  July  29th.) 
"Albany  Barracks,  N.  Y.,  May  8,  1861. 

New  Orleans,  La.,   September   13,   1862. 


82  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  BABCOCK 

guns.  They  are  the  Enfield  rifle,  a  very  effective  and  handsome 
weapon  and  the  boys  are  delighted  with  them."  45  The  Seventy- 
fifth  received  a  better  gun  than  the  other,  in  August  186'2. 
"  Our  regiment  received  new  arms  and  accoutrements  through 
out,  yesterday.  They  now  have  a  rifled  musket  which  is  equal 
to  any  in  the  world,  and  I  trust  will  make  a  good  use  of  them."  4ti 
These  rifles,  however,  were  muzzle-loaders  and  required  some 
little  time  to  load  and  fire,  as,  according  to  the  drill  manual, 
there  were  nine  distinct  operations  in  charging  the  piece,  and 
three  more  in  discharging  it.  The  cartridge  had  to  be  torn  off 
with  the  teeth,  the  powder  poured  into  the  barrel  of  the  gun,  the 
ball  inserted  and  the  charge  rammed  home.  Finally  a  cap  was 
placed  on  the  primer  beneath  the  hammer,  and  the  piece  was 
ready  for  firing.47 

This  slew  process  of  loading  and  firing  explains  in  some  degree 
the  preparations  which  the  Confederates  had  made  to  receive  the 
final  assault  at  Port  Hudson.  "  They  generally  agreed  that  our 
next  assault  must  succeed.  Their  artillery  was  mostly  knocked 
up  by  our  superior  shooting,  but  we  captured  a  good  deal  of 
artillery  and  immense  quantities  of  ammunition.  Their  soldiers 
on  the  breastworks,  in  anticipation  of  another  assault,  were  fur 
nished  with  three  guns  each,  one  rifled  musket,  to  fire  until  we 
should  get  very  close,  and  two  smooth-bore  muskets  or  shot-guns 
heavily  loaded  with  buckshot.  You  can  perhaps  imagine,  but 
I  cannot  describe  the  slaughter  which  good  soldiers  would  make 
with  such  an  armament,"  48 

EXPENSES 

A  very  interesting  list  of  prices  of  various  articles  of  equip 
ment  is  given  on  the  last  pages  of  the  diary  for  1862.  It  seems 
worth  while  to  present  this  in  full. 

Uniform  Hat,  complete ' .";  $1 .  88 

Forage  cap .63 

Ocat,   (musicians)    7.  Oi9 

"     Private's 6.71 

Jackets  .  


45  New  York  City,  June  2,   1861.      (Letter  begun  May  30th.) 
4GPensacola,   Fla.,  August  3,   1862. 

47  Brevet    Lieutenant    Colonel    W.    J.    Hardee,    Rifle    and    Light    Infantry 
Tactics,   1:33   et  seq.      (Philadelphia,    1855,   Lippincott,   Grambo  &   Co.) 

48  Donaldsonville,  La.,  July  18,   1863. 


ORGANIZATION  83 

Trowsers,  Sergeants $3.28 

Corp 2.15 

Privates    3.05 

Sash 2.63 

Flannel  sack 2.15 

"       lined    2.63 

Flannel  Shirts .88 

Drawers 1 .  94 

Stockings  per  Pr .26 

Great-coats 7.20 

Blankets 2.95 

Knapsacks  &  Straps 2.57 

Haversacks .48 

Canteens .34 

straps    .14 

Knit  wool  jackets,  used  for  sacks 2.50 

Bed  sacks,  single 1.06 

"       "       double   1.13 

Axe,  helve  &  sling 6-6,   12,  61  1.49 

Hatchet,  helve  &  sling 27,  03,  35  .65 

Spade  56,  Pick  axe  &  helve  61 1.25 

Camp  Kettle    .48 

Mess  Pan .17 

Iron  Pot 1 . 14 

Garrison  flag    40 . 25 

Storm          "      15.75 

Recruiting "      5.67 

Guidon 9.25 

Camp  color 2.28 

National  Color,  Arty  &  Inf 50 . 00 

Regimental     "         "         "        69.17 

Wall  Tent,  etc 32.17 

Sibley  Tent,   etc 48 . 61 

"           "       stove    3.88 

Hospital  tent 80.00 

"     complete    111.70 

Servants  tent   .  11.77 


84  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  BABCOCK 

"  List  of  Prices  of  Clothing  furnished  hy  the  State 
of  New  York  in  1861.     1862." 

Infantry  overcoat $18  .  63 


jacket    

5.43 

trousers  

3.50 

fatigue  cap  

85 

Pr.   Shoes,  pegged  

1.20 

"         "     sewed    

1.98 

"     drawers  

57 

"     socks    

24 

"     shirt    

88 

"     blanket    

1.95 

The  officer's  uniform  and  equipment  was  a  heavy  expense 
to  a  man  going  into  the  service.  "  I  went  down  town  on  Fri 
day  and  ordered  my  uniform,  my  coat  to  h©  done  by  Wednesday, 
and  pants  as  soon  as  style  is  determined.  My  coat  with  trim 
mings  will  cost  me  $32.00  and  whole  rig  to  go  out  of  the  state 
over  $100.00  —  at  least  a  month's  pay."  49  "  My  military  out 
fit  startles  me,  it  costs  so  much.  Coat,  vest,  pants,  and  over 
coat  cost  $70.00.  Sword,  belt,  sash,  and  epaulets  about  $50.00 
more."  50  Promotion  entailed  new  expenses  in  the  purchase  of 
another  sword,  new  shoulder  straps  and  bugle.51  As  a  field 
officer,  Major  Babcock  likewise  had  to  buy  a  heavy  pistol  and  a 
horse  at  large  expense  to  himself.  Fortunately  for  the  purses 
of  the  officers,  the  cost  of  living  on  Santa  Rosa  island  was  moder 
ate  except  for  mess  charges,  as  there  was  not  much  necessity  for 
wearing  full  uniform,  and  the  men  could  save  on  clothing 
expenses.  "  Our  clothing  here  will  cost  less  than  near  Washing 
ton,  as  we  wear  for  fatigue  purposes,  articles  of  privates  uniform 
clothing.  I  am  wearing  a  comfortable  pair  of  trousers,  cost 
$3.03.  When  my  flannel  sack  is  worn  out,  I  can  get  a  blue  blouse 


49  Albany  Barracks,  N.  Y.,  May  5,  1861. 

5GIMd.,  May  10,  1861. 

5:1  New  York  City,  December  3,  1861. 


ORGANIZATION  85 

such  as  the  regulars  wear,  for  .about  $2  or  $3.  Forage  caps 
$0.50 — .  There  being  few  flatirons  here,  and  less  good 
laundresses,  starched  linen  is  t  nowhere '.  Paper  collars  or 
flannel  shirt  with  collar  turned  down  over  the  vest."  Such 
were  the  usual  expenses  of  an  officer. 

PAY 

"You  ask  what  my  wages  are  [as1  first  lieutenant].  I  do  not 
know  yet.  I  drew  for  twenty  days  about  $72,  out  of  which  was 
to  be  deducted  board  and  washing  to  get  at  my  net  wages.  If 
one  knows  how  to  draw  it,  my  wages,  (out  of  which  I  must  find 
[that  is,  board]  myself)  would  amount  to  from  $108  to  $112. 
I  shall  be  able  to  draw  now  about  at  the  rate  of  $102  per  month 
for  a,  month  and  18  days  to  July  1st." 

"  W'e  shall  receive  no  more  pay  until  in  September."  53  A 
week  later  comes  the  remark,  "  I  am  quite  out  of  money  now. 
Two  cents  comprise  my  '  pile '.  .  .  .1  see  that  we  are  to  be 
obliged  to  await  Congressional  action  before  we  can  be  paid. 
This  will  delay  us  nearly  to  the  last  of  July,  I  fear.  You  would 
laugh,  and  want  to  cry  almost,  to  see  how  utterly  needy  are  our 
officers  and  men  now.  I  do  not  think  $10.00  could  be  borrowed 
in  the  whole  camp,  and  many  of  them  have  drawn  a  month's 
pay  ahead.  I  presume  I  am  as  well  off  as  the  average  of 
them."  54  On  July  26th,  "  We  were  called  in  [from  picket  duty] 
about  4  o'clock  and  received  our  pay.  I  received  pay  for  one 
month  and  18  days  up  to  1st  July  $158.60.  Our  privates  received 
$17.60  each."  55  The  paymaster  made  his  next  visit  to  the  Third 
regiment  October  8th,  and  paid  them  for  July  and  August.  For 
this  period  Lieutenant  Babcoek  drew  $221. 66.56 

This  delay  in  paying  the  men  for  their  service  in  the  army 
seems  to  have  been  chronic  throughout  the  period  covered  by 
these  letters,  for  there  is  always  a  large  amount  of  back  pay 
owing  to  the  soldiers,  and  the  payment  when  made  is  a  big  sum. 
"  The  officers  and  men  on  Santa  Rosa  have  from  four  to  six 
months  pay  due  tbem.  In  three  days,  there  will  be  five  months 
pay  due  me,  nearly  or  quite  $650."  57  The  paymaster  finally 
arrived  on  the  island  the  last  of  February,  and  disputes  begai? 

52  Santa  Rosa   island,   Florida,   January   23,   1862. 

53  Camp  Hamilton,   Va.,   July   5,    1861. 

54  Ibid.,  July  11,   1861. 
"Baltimore,  Md.,  July  29,  1861. 

56  Fort  McHenry,  October  8,   1861. 

57  Santa  Rosa,  Fla.,  January  27,  1862.      (Letter  begun  January  23d.) 


86  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  BABCOCK 

over  the  amount  due  for  service.  "  We  have  not  yet  received 
our  pay.  But  we  are  to  have  it  next  Monday  [March  3]  —  pay 
to  the  Reg't  for  three  months  and  four  days,  and  to  me  for  the 
period  of  three  months  less  four  days.  There  has  been  some 
trouble  and  excitement  in  the  Heg't  in  relation  to  pay.  The  Pay 
master  declined  to  pay  the  men  from  date  of  enlistment  up  to 
Nov.  26  when  mustered  as  Reg't  into  the  U.  S.  service.58  The 
officers  met  night  before  last  and  resolved  not  to  take  pay  unless 
paid  in  full  up  to  Jan.  1,  1862.  Gen.  Arnold  anxious  to  con 
ciliate  and  please  us,  agreed  to  undertake  to  secure  that  back 
pay  by  the  time  a  paymaster  comes  here  again,  and  to  have  us 
paid  now  from  Nov.  26  up  to  March  1. 

"  So  we  held  another  meeting  last  night  to  talk  it  over  again 
and  after  a  stormy  discussion,  agreed  to  receive  what  was  offered 
us  and  go  on." 

"  I  had  an  interview  with  the  Paymaster  on  Monday  morning, 
about  my  back  pay  [for  September  and  October  1861]  and  1 
still  have  to  send  to  Washington.  ...  I  shall  receive  over  $400 
here.  Out  of  this  I  pay  .  .  .  my  bills  for  forage,  for  our 
mess,  for  borrowed  money  etc.,  and  for  the  Band !  59  This  will 
be  about  $100."  60  "  I  have  never  told  you  what  pay  I  received^ 
because  until  I  was  last  paid,  I  did  not  know  how  much  custom 
would  allow  me  to  receive.  My  pay  proper  is  $70  per  month, 
and  four  rations  which  are  by  law  and  practice  commuted  in 
money,  making  $3@  per  month.  Then  I  am  allowed  two  servants 
and  three  horses,  and  for  each  servant  that  I  actually  keep  in 
service  I  draw  $24.50  per  month,  and  for  each  horse  for  forage 
$8.00  per  month.  Having  but  one  horse,  and  one  servant,  (none 
now  not  a  soldier),  I  did  not  know  as  I  should  get  pay  but  for 
one  of  each.  But  I  have  found  that  it  is  the  practice,  though 
contrary  to  law,  for  officers  to  draw  full  pay  and  allowances, 
whether  they  keep  horses  or  servants  or  not.  So  I  did  the  same. 

My  pay  then  per  month  is $70. 

Four  rations  at  $9  each 3>6. 

Two  servants   at   $24.50 49. 

Forage  for  three  horses 24. 

$179. 


58  The  Feventy-fifth  Now  York  was  enlisted  during  October  and  November 
1861  under  its  own  officers,  and  commenced  drilling,  but  was  not  mustered 
into  the  service  of  the  United  States  until  November  26th. 

59  The  officers  by  special  collections  among  themselves  paid  the  band  for 
its  services  with  the  regiment.    Diary,  March  15,  1862. 

60  Santa  Rosa  island,  Florida,  February  26,  1862. 


ORGANIZATION  87 

Out  of  this,  of  course  was  deducted  the  forage  I  draw  monthly 
for  my  horse  $8.00  leaving  due  me  per  month  $171."  From 
this  time  on,  very  little  is  said  with  regard  to  the  matter  of  pay 
for  army  service,  although  plainly  the  paymaster's  arrival  was 
expected  months  before  he  came.  Rhodes  in  his  History  of  the 
United  States  says  that  "A  duty  of  three  per  cent  was  laid  on 
...  .  the  salaries  and  pay  of  officers  and  persons  in  the  service 
of  the  United  States  above  an  exemption  of  $600."  This  was 
the  tax  act  of  1862,  approved  by  the  President  July  1st,,  but 
no  mention  is  made  of  such  a  tax  in  the  letters  dealing  'with  the 
question. 

DISCIPLINE 

During  the  period  of  training  in  Albany,  the  officers  had  great 
difficulty  in  keeping  order  and  discipline  in  their  commands. 
u  Tonight  \ve  got  up  from  supper  and  ran  out  to  quell  a  sup 
posed  row.  You  can  hardly  realize  in  what  sort  of  a  constant 
turmoil  we  live  here  now.  There  are  some  1800  men  in  all 
sorts  of  command [s],  in  all  stages  of  civilization,  and  in  all 
states  of  content.  Hardly  a  meal  passes  when  there  is  not  some 
sort  of  a  muss  at  the  tables.  Dishes  are  overturned,  victuals 
thrown,  men  refuse  to  eat,  disobey  orders,  are  arrested  and  sent 
off  to  the  guard  house,  and  all  sorts  of  things  done.  We  live 
in  constant  expectation  of  a  general  fight.  Companies  are 
stirred  up  by  unprincipled  and  insubordinate  fellows  and  urged 
to  leave,  to  desert,  to  break  the  guard  lines,  and  various  wrongs. 
These  harangues,  emphasized  by  annoyances  and  hardships  of  the 
men  are  all  the  time  ready  to  break  out  into  disorder,  and  there 
has  not  been  a  day  since  I  have  been  here  at  the  Barracks  when 
we  have  not  as  officers  taken  our  pistols  and  gone  out  at  some 
alarm  to  quell  a  riot.  Fortunately  they  have  always  been  exag 
gerated,  and  we  have  not  had  any  real  duty  of  that  sort,  Last 
night  as  we  turned  in  at  our  quarters,  the  Adjutant  General 
came  up  and  quietly  cautioned  us  to  sleep  with  arms  so  that 
we  could  at  once  turn  out  and  hurry  to  the  fray.  It  is  a  life 
of  exhilaration  but  not  of  fear.  .  .  . 

"  Last  night  a  soldier  attempted  to  run  the  guard  and  desert. 
He  started  on  a  run  and  leaped  a  fence  when  his  Lieut,  who 
had  a  few  moments  before  borrowed  Catlin's  pistol,  commanded 

61  Santa  Rosa  island,  Florida,  March  11,  1862.      (Letter  begun  March  6th.) 
Muster   and    pay    rolls    are   extant   showing    this    commutation    of   rations 

and  forage. 

62  Vol.  IV,  p.   59. 


88  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  BABCOCK 

him  to  stop  several  times.  The  fellow  continued  to  run,  when 
the  Lieut  to  frighten  him,  fired,  not  intending  to  hit  him.  The 
ball  struck  him  in  the  calf  of  the  leg,  inflicting  quite  a  serious 
wound.  He  came  back  and  was  sent  to  the  Hospital  where  he 
is  doing  well."  63 

Whenever  a  large  force  of  soldiers  is  quartered  in  or  near  a 
city,  there  is  always  trouble  for  those  in  authority  from  drunken 
ness  and  vice,  and  such  was  the  case  during  the  Civil  War. 
"  Several  of  the  boys  got  by  the  guard  last  night  and  went  out 
and  got  drunk.  They  only  got  in  about  10  o'clock  and  were 
drunk  this  morning  at  roll  call.  I  got  out  about  half  past  five, 
just  as  one  Farnham  was  making  some  noise  in  the  ranks.  I 
ordered  him  to  be  quiet,  He  continued  and  I  told  him  to  go  to 
his  tent.  .  .  .  He  refused  in  an  impudent  tone.  I  sent  for 
the  sergeant  of  the  Guard  to  arrest  him.  Meanwhile  Farnham 
drew  his  revolver  and  said  the  whole  regiment  couldn't  arrest 
him  and  threatened  to  shoot  the  first  man  who  touched  him.  I 
had  my  sword  but  no  pistol.  The  Sergt.  came  with  two  men 
and  I  directed  him  to  arrest  Farnham.  The  guard  approached 
and  he  cocked  his  pistol.  I  was  near  and  sprang  and  caught 
the  weapon  and  his  arm.  He  tried  to  turn  it  inward  to  shoot 
me  but  it  went  off  into  the  ground  and  I  got  my  hand  firmly 
hold  of  the  pistol  and  held  it,  he  meanwhile  trying  to  turn  it 
toward  me.  I  kept  the  muzzle  up,  and  soon  with  the  aid  of 
another  man,  got  it  away  and  he  was  dragged  and  pushed  away 
to  the  guard  house.  He  soon  got  out  again,  but  is  now  in  irons 
in  the  Guard  House.  I  have  preferred  charges  and  he  will  be 
tried  and  punished.  The  penalty  of  his  offense  is  death  or  such 
less  punishment  as  the  court  may  see  fit  to  inflict." 

At  Camp  Hamilton  liquor  was  more  difficult  to  obtain,  but 
whiskey  was  kindly  sent  from  home,  and  the  men  had  a  cele 
bration.65  A  pledge  against  liquor  was  signed  by  the  officers 
before  they  left  New  York,  but  it  was  ineffective.66  When  the 
regiment  returned  to  Baltimore,  the  reaction  came  and  excesses 
of  various  kinds  were  indulged  in.  "  The  officers  were  nearly 
all  off  drunk,  (this  morning)  with  the  women  of  the  street. 
.  .  .  Our  men  were  nearly  all  gone  and  more  were  going.  .  .  . 
Col.  Alford  was  drunk." 


63  Albany  Barracks,  New  York,  May  7,   1861. 

64  New  York  City,  May  31,  1861.      (Letter  begun  May  30th.) 

65  Camp  Hamilton,  Va.,  July  23,   1861.      (Letter  begun  July  21st.) 

66  Ibid.,    June    15,    1861.       (Letter    begun    June    14th.) 


ORGANIZATION  89 

"  Tonight  not  200  [men]  are  in  camp.  Capt.  Catlin,  Capt. 
Hulburt,  Lt.  Cooper  and  one  or  two  other  officers  are  under 
arrest.  A  hundred  men  are  drunk,  a  hundred  more  are  at  houses 
of  ill-fame,  and  the  balance  are  everywhere.  .  .  .  Ool.  Alford 
is  very  drunk  all  the  time  now.  We  shall  not  endure  him  much 
longer.  He  will  be  broken  of  his  office  I  think,  soon  or  resign." 

"  For  an  officer  to  be  put  under  arrest  involves  simply  a  con 
finement  to  the  Camp.  He  is  not  to  go  out  of  Camp,  or  wear 
his  sword,  or  visit  his  superior  officers,  or  make  communication 
to  them  except  in  writing.  Of  course  he  does  no  duty." 
"  Practices  obtain  here,  and  they  are  much  the  same  in  all  camps 
I  presume,  which  you  would  think  a  shame  to  a  civilized  people 
and  only  worthy  of  a  savage  or  semi-savage  period.  .  .  .  The 
spectator,  the  sufferer,  and  the  minister  of  punishment  alike, 
accept  it  as  '  a  part  of  the  play '.  Men  can  be  seen  here,  in  the 
stocks  daily,  wearing  and  working  with  ball  and  chain,  '  bucked 
and  gagged '  and  even  knocked  down  by  the  fist  or  club  of  the 
Provost  Marshall.  These  are  but  the  daily  practices  of  prisons 
and  penitentiaries,  where  abandoned  men  must  be  controlled,  and 
have  come  into  use  in  the  3rd  regiment  through  the  utter  demoral 
ization  of  the  regiment,  and  the  appointment  of  an  old  police 
officer  to  the  office  of  Provost  Marshall."  68 

Lliquor  came  ashore  on  Santa  Rosa  island  from  the  vessels69 
which  brought  supplies,  and  it  could  likewise  be  purchased  at 
low  cost  from  the  quartermaster.  Major  ]N"ewby  of  the  Sixth 
regiment  one  afternoon  visited  several  of  the  vessels  off  the 
coast,  got  drunk  and  came  back  with  the  desire  of  getting  in 
a  fight.  After  a  quarrel  with  a  sentry  he  was  sent  to  his  quarters, 
from  which  he  fired  a  pistol  into  Colonel  Wilson's  tent,  fortu 
nately  without  injuring  anyone.  "  Col.  Wilson  ordered  him  under 
arrest,  and  soon  Gren.  Arnold's  aid  came  up  and  posted  a  file 
of  men  around  the  unfortunate  Major's  tent.  This  morning  he 
was  to  be  put  in  close  confinement  at  the  Fort,  and  he  may  finish 
hia  career  with  '  Twelve  Paces  and  a  fusilade'.  He  will  at  least 
lose  his  commission."  70  A  court-martial  was  convened  and  he 
was  sentenced  to  dismissal.71  "We  had  another  magnificent 
'  drunk '  last  night.  The  Lt.  Col.  and  Adjutant,  with  Perry, 


67  Baltimore,  Md.,  July  29,  1861. 
88  Fort  MeHenry,  October  24,  1861. 

69  Santa  Rosa  island,   Florida,  December  20,   1861. 

70  Ibid.,  March  2,   1862. 

71  Diary,  March  8,  1862. 


90  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  BABCOCK 

(whom  you  must  not  take  to  be  a  soaker,  for  he  has  no  gross 
vices,)  went  down  to  the  Fort,  where  they  had  a  gay  oyster  sup 
per  and  sundry  drinks,  which  produced  songs  and  speeches  and 
various  exercises.  The  Adjutant  and  Lt,  Col.  got  brutally  drunk 
and  the  Adjutant  about  2  o'clock  invited  the  crowd  up  to  our 
Hd.  Qrs,  to  i  take  a  drink '.  They  all  started,  but  Perry  was 
entirely  sober,  and  with  the  help  of  one  or  two  sober  regulars, 
succeeded  in  turning  them  back." 72  These  parties  occurred 
quite  often  on  the  island,  and  the  same  congenial  group  was 
usually  present. 

To  Major  Babcock  as  provost  marshal  and  military  governor 
of  Pensacola  fell  the  duty  of  keeping  law  and  order  in  the  city. 
"  My  duties  include  granting  and  refusing  passes  to  fish,  to  leave 
town,  to  live  in  town,  permits  to  land  groceries  or  liquors,  etc., 
investigations  after  spies,  disorderly  and  dangerous  persons, 
examination  of  property  of  rebels  and  taking  it  for  government 
use,  including  storehouses,  bakeries,  houses,  hospitals,  furniture, 
rooms,  lumber,  etc.  I  have  been  all  over  the  city  and  inside 
half  the  houses.  .  .  .  I  go  everywhere  unarmed  and  without 
opposition  by  the  virtue  of  the  little  words  '  Provost  Marshal/ 
but  of  course  I  try  to  be  civil  to  everybody.  My  duties  detach 
me  from  the  Regt,  .  .  .  In  addition  to  what  I  mentioned,  I 
have  to  arrest  all  soldiers  out  without  a  pass,  search  houses 
suspected  of  selling  liquors,  superintend  a  night  patrol,  and  gen 
erally,  aid  the  city  authorities." 73  "  You  can  hardly  realize 
what  a  state  of  society  there  is  here.  I  suppose  there  is  not  a 
chaste  black  woman,  or  mulatto,  or  quadroon,  or  octaroon,  or 
even  a  poor  but  decent  looking  white  woman  in  the  city.  With 
all  the  raving  passions  of  these  soldiers,  brutal  enough  for  any 
thing,  there  has  not  yet  been  a  complaint  of  a  rape.  ...  If 
you  should  come  into  Pensacola  on  a  Sunday,  or  at  parades,  you 
would  be  struck  with  the  gay  costumes  of  the  black  belles,  but 
the  new  dresses,  $15,  $20,  $30,  have  all  been  bought  with  the 
money  of  soldiers,  and  the  dresses  were  brought  here  by  the  army 
sutlers."  74 

Long  service  seems  to  have  dulled  the  edge  of  the  discipline 
for  which  the  Seventy-fifth  had  been  noted,  and  a  good  deal  of 
work  was  necessary  by  the  latter  part  of  1864  to  restore  the  regi- 

72  Santa    Eosa    island,    Florida,    March    16,    1862.       (Letter    begun    March 
13th.) 

73  Pensacola,  Fla.,  May  20,   1862. 
™Ibid.,  July  7,  1862. 


ORGANIZATION  91 

ment  to  its  former  standard  of  training.  "  When  we  left  Wash 
ington  our  men  seemed  to  have  forgotten  all  discipline.  They 
ran  out  of  the  ranks  everywhere  to  get  water,  or  fruit,  or  to 
visit  a  house  and  I  was  constantly  vexed  and  tired.  I  began  to 
reform  it,  to  keep  up  stragglers,  to  admonish,  scold  and  punish, 
and  to  require  all  to  do  their  duty.  The  work  was  hard,  but 
encouraging  in  results,  and  we  new  get  on  passably  well,  better, 
I  think,  than  any  other  Regt.  of  our  brigade." 

"  The  troops  of  the  6th  and  8th  Corps  straggle  fearfully, — 
by  squads  and  not  by  individuals.  In  one  case,  it  is  said,  that 
:'  whole  regiment  dropped  out  of  the  column  and  halted  for  the 
night,  swearing  that  they  wouldn't  march  any  farther."  75 

These  were  the  troops,  then,  that  Colonel  Babcock  came  in 
contact  with,  carrying  their  heavy  equipment  on  long  marches, 
for  small  pay,  spurred  on  by  patriotism  and  loyalty  to  the  cause 
they  served,  worn  out  and  half  mutinous  at  times  but  presenting 
formidable  bodies  of  well  trained  men  in  a  battle. 


75Xcar   Charlestown,  Va.,  August  20,   1864. 


CHAPTER  VII 

KECEEATION  AND  MAIL 

RECREATION 

Although  the  routine  of  camp  was  severe  and  the  hours  for 
drill  and  work  were  long  and  tedious,  there  was  some  time  left 
for  recreation,  and  the  men  made  the  most  of  it,  with  the  scanty 
means  at  their  disposal.  "As  I  look  out  of  our  window  to  the 
West.  ...  I  see  on  the  green  sward,  a  hundred  men  laughing, 
talking,  playing  ball,  cards  and  leap-frog,  drilling  and  doing 
a  hundred  things  for  this  or  that  purpose  of  pleasure  or  profit."  1 
In  the  evening,  the  regimental  bands  played  on  the  parade 
grounds  for  an  hour  or  so  in  fine  weather,  making  the  men  at 
the  front  think  of  their  friends  at  home.2 

In  a  letter  dated  July  4,  1861,  Lieutenant  Babcock  tells  of  the 
celebration  of  the  Fourth  of  July,  in  Camp  Hamilton,  Virginia. 
"  There  was  a  good  deal  of  frolic  last  night  in  camp,  and  this 
morning  we  were  awakened  at  sunrise  by  the  firing  of  the 
national  salute  of  34  guns,  which  was  answered  by  a  salute  from 
a  rebel  battery  opposite  consisting  of  eleven  guns  for  the  eleven 
Confederate  states.  .  .  .  Our  boys  in  nearly  all  of  the  companies, 
raised  the  i  red,  white,  and  blue  '  over  their  quarters  this  fore 
noon,  and  have  been  indulging  more  or  less  freely  in  ale  and 
whiskey  and  feel  remarkably  well.  In  one  street  they  are  sing 
ing  the  '  Star  Spangled  Banner  ?,  in  another  a  sentimental  song, 
in  some  they  are  telling  stories,  and  others, — two  or  three  at 
least, —  I  hear  something  that  reminds  me  that  they  are  thinking 
of  home.  .  .  .  We  lounged  about  all  the  forenoon  and  most 
of  the  afternoon !  "  3 

When  accidents  occurred,  the  men  accepted  them  in  good 
humor,  as  the  spice  of  life.  "We  have  just  had  a  tremendous 
shower  and  the  Camp  is  well  flooded.  ...  In  one  of  our 
streets  the  boys  were  flooded  out  and  after  the  shower  were  out 
naked  in  the  rain  water  spattering  each  other.  There  was  a 
deal  of  gay  laughter  in  the  camp."  4  When  the  Third  regiment 
arrived  on  its  new  camp  grounds  at  Baltimore,  the  troops  already 

1  Albany  Barracks,  N.  Y.,  May  5,  1861. 

2  Camp  Hamilton,  Virginia,  June   18,   1861.     IUd.,  June  20,   1861. 

3  Camp  Hamilton,  Virginia,  Julv  4,  1861. 

id.,  July  20,  1861. 


EECREATION   AND   MAIL  93 

there  did  their  ;best  to  make  it  pleasant  for  them.  "  The  camp 
of  the  8th  Mass.  Regt.  was  near  us,  and  their  boys  came  flocking 
into  our  camp  with  pork,  beans,  cakes,  bread  and  liquor  of  all 
sorts  for  our  weary  fellows,  and  in  a  moment  they  were  all 
brothers."  On  their  departure,  their  term  of  service  as  soldiers 
being  up  July  30,  1861,°  "  They  exchanged  many  tokens  with 
us.  Homans,  the  immortal  engineer,  gave  one  of  our  boys  an 
elegant  gutta  percha  canteen  for  an  old  tin  one  which  had  been 
at  Bethel.  Some  exchanged  buttons,  and  you  will  see  our  boys 
with  one  Mass.  State  button  on<  their  jackets,  while  their  jackets 
have  one  Excelsior  button.  Some  swapped  caps.  They  gave 
us  kittles,  [i.  e.  kettles]  knives  and  forks,  spoons,  dishes  and  all 
sorts  of  such  things.77 

On  Santa  Rosa  island  there  was  apparently  more  time  for 
recreation,  since  fewer  hours  were  devoted  to  drill.7  There  was 
a  dearth  of  books  and  reading  matter,  and  the  men  devoured 
such  as  could  be  obtained.8  The  officers  often  went  off  for  horse 
back  rides  down  the  island,  singly  or  in  groups.9  "  I  was  busy 
during  the  forenoon,  and  after  dinner,  the  Col.,  Quarter  Master 
and  myself  set  off  for  a  ride  down  the  island.  We  went  down 
some  five  or  six  miles  on  the  beach  .and  back  again.  It  is  a 
terribly  dreary  place.  Down  two  or  three  miles,  a  few  pine 
trees  afford  a  little  shade  and  make  it  resemble  some  pine  bar 
rens  at  home;  but  beyond  that,  as  far  as  eye  can  reach,  it  is 
a  mere  ridge  of  white  sand,  covered  with  a  little  wild  grass  and 
some  low  bushes."  10 

"  I  am  going  off  on  a  sort  of  picnic  party  or  '  Scout '  tomor 
row  down  the  Island.  Capts.  MacDougall  of  'A',  Dwight  of 

5  War  of  the  Rebellion:    Official  Records,  series  I,  II:   760. 

6  Baltimore,  Md.,  July  29,  1861. 

7  It  is  possible,  also,  that  as  Major  Babcock  was  a  field  officer,  and  there 
fore  did  not  have  to  put  in  so  much  time   in   actual  drilling  as  when  he 
was  a  company  officer,  he  does  not  say  as  much  about  the  long  drill  periods. 
Later  on,   however,  he  does  speak   particularly   of   the   fact   that  drills   are 
to  commence  in  earnest,  preparatory  to  an  attack  on  Pensacola. 

8  Santa  Rosa  island,  Florida,  December  26,   1861. 

9  "After  the  Review,  the  Qr.  Master  [Carpenter]  and  myself  took  our  daily 
ride  —  at  least  the  ride  we  take  every  day  when  I  have  not  worked  Fred 
too  much, —  up  to  the  Hospital,  thence  across  to  the  Bay,  by  the   Spanish 
Fort,  thence  down  the  hard  sand  around  Fort  Pickens  and  the  batteries  — 
a  most  delightful  ride,  and  an  interesting  one  too,  for  it  takes  one  between 
the  iron  teeth  of  the  rebels  and  our  own  and  includes  everything  of  interest 
here."     Santa   Rosa   island,   Florida,   April  30.    1862.      (Letter   begun  April 
25th.) 

10  Santa    Rosa    island,    Florida,    January    4,    1861    [i.    e.    1862].       (Letter 
begun  January  3d.) 


94  LETTERS  OP  GENERAL  BABCOCK 

'  D '  and  Fitch  of  i  F '  companies  are  the  originators  of  the 
excursion  and  invited  me.  We  take  fish  lines,  oyster  rakes,  pro 
visions,  liquids,  and  muskets,  prepared  for  bivouac,  for  hunting, 
for  fishing  and  for  war.  We  go  in  a  whalebcat  and  take  four 
soldiers  to  row  for  us.  We  expect  to  start  early  and  go  down 
the  island  some  1-2-  to  15  miles  where  are  oyster  beds,  in  the 
waters,  and  hunting  grounds  on  land.  We  shall  be  gone  all  day. 
Should  some  Secesh  scouting  party  surprise  or  overpower  us, 
the  rest  of  this  letter  will  probably  be  dated  from  Montgomery 
jail  or  some  such  delectable  quarters."  n  They  spent  the  day 
very  pleasantly,  landing  frequently  to  look  for  signs  of  the 
enemy  and  game  but  found1  neither.  Sighting  a  Confederate 
schooner  on  the  other  side  of  the  island,  they  formed  the  wild 
plan  of  attempting  to  capture  it,  but  finally  gave  up  the  idea  on 
account  of  the  difficulty  of  dragging  the  whaleboat  across  the 
island.  On  their  way  home  from  this  trip  occurred  the  wild 
alarm  of  the  pickets  which  has  been  narrated  above.12 

Cards  and  a  congenial  group  helped  to  occupy  the  long  even 
ings  very  pleasantly.  "  Last  night  after  tea  I  rode  up  to  the 
hospital  and  found  the  doctors  of  the  6th  Regt.  Dr.  Pease  and 
Dr.  Lynch,  in  our  doctors'  tent,  ready  to  play  a  game  of  whist. 
Dr.  Powers 13  was  suddenly  taken  quite  ill  and  I  sat  down  to 
make  up  the  rubber.  We  had  a  very  nice  game  and  played  till 
after  nine  o'clock."  "  We  have  a  custom  in  camp  here  which 
will  amuse  you.  It  is  intended  as  a  sort  of  joke  on  our  priva 
tions  here.  If  one  accidentally  mentions  some  luxury  wyhich, 
easily  obtainable  at  home,  is  inaccessible  here,  he  is  instantly 
tried,  convicted,  and  fined  a  •muggins/  or  a  i  big  muggins,'  in 
proportion  to  the  enormity  of  the  offense.  A  '  muggins '  is  a 
bottle  of  whisky,  and  a  '  big  muggins '  is  a  gallon  jug  full  of 
the  same.  For  instance  one  tantalizingly  says,  '  Now  how  would 
you  like  to  drop  into  the  Astor  House  for  a  superb  dinner  and 
a  glass  of  iced  champagne  ? '  or  '  How  would  you  like  to  "  drop 
around  "  this  lovely  moonlight  night  and  spend  the  evening  with 
"  her"  ? '  or  '  How  would  you  like  a  lodge  in  some  vast  widow's 
nest  ? '  I  was  fined  day  before  yesterday  for  looking  down  by 
my  side  as  I  started  to  rise  from  the  table  and  saying  in  my 


11  Santa   Rosa   island,   Florida,  January  23,   1862. 

12  See  section  on  Picket  and  Guard  Duty,  chapter  4. 

13  Doctor  Powers  was  assistant  surgeon  of  the  Seventy-fifth  New  York. 

14  Santa  Rosa  island,  Florida,  February  5,  1862.      (Letter  begun  January 
31st.) 


RECREATION    AND    MAIL  95 

most  feminine  tones,  '  Won't  you  please  to  get  off  from  my 
frock?'"15 

Time  hung  heavy  on  the  hands  of  the  officers  and  men  who 
were  in  the  trenches  and  positions  before  Port  Hudson  during 
the  siege.  "  The  other  day  we  tried  hard  to  induce  the  rebs  to 
talk  to  us,  but  after  some  little  bantering,  they  seem  to  have 
been  stopped  by  their  officers.  Our  boys  invited  them  to  come 
over  and  get  some  coffee  and  '  hard  tack ',  to  get  a  good  clean 
meal,  etc.,  but  they  wouldn't  say  a  word.  On  the  day  pf  the 
armistice  they  were  very  talkative  and  showed  a  desire  to  become 
acquainted."  As  the  siege  continued,  however,  the  restrictions 
were  lessened  somewhat.  "  Our  troops  on  the  left  are  very 
near  and  on  very  amicable  terms  with  them.  It  is  related  that 
one  of  our  night  pickets  crawling  cautiously  towards  his  post 
in  front,  came  to  a  log  behind  which  lay  a  Confederate  picket. 
'  Halt ! '  says  Gonf ed.  '  Don't  come  any  farther,  Yank !  My 
orders  are  to  fire  on  you  if  you  come  over  this  log !  '  'All  right !  ' 
says  the  Yankee,  '  my  orders  are  to  fire  on  you  if  you  come  over 
this  log.'  And  so  the  two  sat  down  and  talked  amicably  all 
night.  They  get  down  to  the  river  together  to  fill  canteens,  and 
whenever  ordered  to  fire  on  each  other  they  call  out  '  Get  down 
out  of  sight  there,  I'm  going  to  fire  now ! '  The  rebs  however, 
fire  on  the  negroes  on  all  occasions,  and  one  of  them  called  out 
to  one  of  our  soldiers  near  a  working  party  the  other  day  t  Hello ! 
Yank,  Get  down  there.  I  want  to  shoot  that  d — n  nigger!  ' 
Our  troops  were  under  marching  orders  a  number  of  days  with 
two  days'  rations.  The  rebs  called  to  our  men  and  wanted  to 
knew  if  those  '  two  days'  rations  weren't  musty  ? '  They  also 
inquired  how  Banks  Volunteer  Thousand  Storming  Party  come 
on,  and  intimated  the  opinion  that  Banks  didn't  know  how  to 
get  up  an  assault."  17 

As  the  men  lounged  around  the  camp  fire  after  a  long  day's 
march,  they  discussed  various  matters  of  interest,  "  The  Major 
and  the  Chaplain  are  near  by  in  a  neighboring  tent,  discussing 
Auburn  days.18  The  crazy  drummer  boys  are  also  within  ear 
shot,  telling  marvellous  and  not  over  nice  stories.  Some  of  the 
men  are  singing  psalms,  some  are  sitting  around  their  fires 

15  Ibid.,  April   17,    ISO'2.      (Letter  bemm  April   16th.) 

16  Near  Port  Hudson,  La.,  June  7,   1863. 

17  Port  Hudson,  La.,  July  1,   1863. 

18  Major  Thurber  and  Chaplain  J.  E.  Worth.     The  Seventy-fifth  had  been 
organized  in  Auburn,  N.  Y. 


96  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  BABCOCK 

laughing  and  joking  as  if  there  were  never  any  hard  marches, 

or  short  rations."  w 

i.  j  -^-i- 

Amusements  of  these  sorts  helped  to  keep  men  and  officers 
contented  with  their  lot  as  soldiers  by  occupying  the  time  when 
they  might  otherwise  be  thinking  about  their  hardships  and 
becoming  sullen  and  mutinous. 

MAIL 

Letters  and  papers  from  home  helped  to  break  the  monotony 
and  lessen  the  hardship  of  the  soldier's  life  in  the  field.  Irregu 
lar  as  the  mails  usually  were,  the  men  eagerly  waited  for  them, 
to  learn  news  of  operations  in  other  parts  of  the  country,  and  of 
the  friends  at  home.  At  Hampton,  Va,,  "  Our  mail  facilities 
are  few.  You  will  not  hear  from  us  oftener  than  once  a  week, 
and  will  get  as  much  news  by  the  papers  as  I  can  write.7'  w  A 
carrier  distributed  the  mails  from  a  central  point  for  the  vari 
ous  companies.21 

At  Santa  Rosa  island,  the  delivery  of  the  mail  was  a  more  dif 
ficult  matter  still,  for  only  a  comparatively  small  force  was  sta 
tioned  there,  and  the  island  was  away  from  the  usual  route  of 
the  steamers.  The  delays  were  many  and  the  arrival  of  mail 
boats  irregular.  "  You  do  not  know  what  a  dearth  of  news  is 
here,  and  how  much  good  even  two  daily  papers  per  week  (half 
a  month  old  at  that)  would  do  me.  .  .  .  Mail  them  every  day 
or  two,  as  the  mail  may  be  made  up  in  !N".  Y.  any  day  for  Ft. 
Pickens,  Vessels  are  leaving  every  day  or  two  for  some  point 
this  way,  and  the  Havana  steamers  leave  our  mails  at  Key  West 
whence  we  get  them  by  various  craft."  22  "  We  got  orders  yes 
terday  quite  suddenly,  to  send  our  letters  to  the  Fort,  as  the 
Connecticut  was  hourly  expected  to  touch  here  for  a  mail  on 
her  way  to  Key  West.  So  I  hurriedly  closed  up  my  long  letter 
to  you  and  sent  it  down  [to  the  Fort].  I  hear  that  she  touched 
and  got  our  mail  in  the  night  last  night,  and  suppose  my  letter 
is  on  the  way  to  your  hands."  M 

19  Near  Berryville,  Va.,  September  11,   1864. 

It  is  rather  sad  to  think  that  only  8  days  later,  a  large  number  of  these 
men  were  lyinig  dead  on  the  battlefield  of  Winchester,  for  the  Seventy-fifth 
suffered  very  heavy  losses  in  that  battle,  and  that  the  writer  of  these  letters 
was  in  the  Winchester  Hospital  mortally  wounded. 

20  Hampton,  Va.,  June  6,   1861. 

21  Camp  Hamilton,  Virginia,  June   14,   186*1. 

22  Santa    Rosa    island,    Florida,    January    5,    1862.       (Letter   begun    Janu 
ary  3d.) 

23  Santa  Rosa  island,  Florida,  February  6,  1862. 


RECREATION    AND    MAIL  97 

The  mail  bags  all  had  to  be  landed  through  the  surf  and 
breakers,  with  considerable  danger.  "  Our  little  mail  schooner 
i  The  Pickering '  has  just  come  in  sight  and  a  boat  is  already 
dancing  over  the  breakers  and  through  the  surf  out  to  board 
her  for  our  letters  and  papers.  It  blows  and  rains  like  every 
thing  and  I  don't  know  as  we  shall  get  anything  tonight,  but  if 
we  don't  we  shall  hardly  go  to  bed  content. 

[Sunday  morning]  "  Our  hopes  of  a  mail  last  night  were  all 
dashed  to  pieces  just  after  dark  by  the  return  of  our  boat  with 
information  that  the  sail  which  we  supposed  to  be  our  mail 
schooner  was  a  fruit  schooner  from  Havana,  that  she  brought  no 
mail  and  said  there  wTas  no  news.  ...  I  hear  today  that  our 
little  mail  schooner  '  The  Pickering '  has  been  lost  at  sea,  6r 
at  least  has  not  been  heard  from  since  she  left  here  with  our 
mail  some  three  weeks  ago.  We  sent  a  large  mail  by  her,  if 
I  am  not  mistaken,  which  will  be  left  in  mid-ocean  while  our 
friends  wonder  why  we  do  not  write.  This  will  interfere  with 
the  regularity  of  our  mails,  and  explains  why  we  have  not  had 
an  arrival  before.  Such  I  suppose  will  be  our  luck  often  while 
on  this  out-of-the-way  place."  24  "  You  do  not  know  .  .  .  what 
it  is  to  see  a  mail  already  forty  days  old  beating  up  towards  the 
shore  on  which  you  are  awaiting  it,  for  a  long  ten  hours,  now 
driven  back  by  the  wind,  now  steering  apparently  away  and  now 
coming  almost  in  again,  struggling  as  if  for  dear  life  to  get  up 
to  anchorage,  when  you  have  nothing  to  do  but  look  on  and 
tremble  for  the  changes  that  have  befallen  the  dear  ones  at  home 
in  this  long  silence. 

"  Yesterday  morning  before  we  were  up  we  heard  the  cry 
'Sail  Ho ! '  and  as  we  were  crazy  for  news  we  were  soon  out  and 
dressed  to  watch  what  might  be  in  the  offing  for  us.  ...  A 
little  sharp  peering  through  the  mist  discovered  to  us  a  brigan- 
tine  six  or  seven  miles  away,  trying  to  beat  up  against  a  head 
wind.  We  had  been  so  many  times  disappointed  that  we  did 
not  feel  at  all  sanguine  that  she  had  mail  on  board  of  her,  and 
yet  we  hardly  took  our  eyes  off  from  her  until  it  was  near  noon 
when  she  dropped  anchor.  A  boat  soon,  put  off  from  her  and 
steered  for  the  shore.  The  lookouts,  the  sandhills  and  the  beach 
were  all  filled  with  anxious  officers  and  soldiers  and  the  ramparts 
of  Pickens  had  a  crowd  of  watchers.  We  at  headquarters  were 

24  Santa  Rosa  island,  Florida,  February  8,  1862.  (Letter  begun  Febru 
ary  6th.) 

4 


98  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  BABCOCK 

all  on  the  lookout,  with  glasses,  and  what  with  fear  and  hopo 
and  anxiety  lest  the  surf  which  was  very  rough  and  angry  should 
dash  our  little  messenger  to  pieces,  it  was  a  nervous  season.  At 
last,  however,  the  boat  touched  the  sand  and  we  saw  them  throw 
ing  out  bags  on  the  sand.  Soon  two  mule  carts  went  up  and 
loaded  up  with  the  mail.  It  had  come !  "  25  The  letters  received 
carried  dates  up  to  January  27th,  and  arrived  February  16th. 
A  week  later  another  vessel  arrived,  bringing  letters  dated  to 
February  4th.26 

"  We  hear  now  that  a  mail  will  leave  here  next  Tuesday 
March  4th,  and  of  course  our  letters  will  reach  N.  Y.  about  the 
14th  or  15th  of  the  month.  You  will  perhaps  have  an  idea, 
got  in  the  legitimate  way,  how  long  our  negligent  Uncle  Sam 
left  us  to  wait  for  our  last  mail."  27  On  Thursday  May  8th,  Major 
Babcock  again  voices  the  complaint  over  delay  in  getting  mail 
at  Santa  Rosa  island.  "  Our  latest  limits  of  news  are  now  thirty 
days  old,  and  two  or  three  states  may  have  been,  probably  have 
been,  lost  or  won  to  the  good  cause  since  we  heard  a  word.7' 
Friday  evening  May  9th,  "  We  are  all  getting  cross  and  testy 
at  the  delay  of  the  mail  from  New  York  and  the  news  by  steamer 
from  New  Orleans.  The  probabilities  now  are  that  the  Ehocle 
Island  which  we  have  expected  back  for  a  week  or  more  now, 
to  take  our  letters  to  N".  Y.  has  gone  direct  from  the  Mississippi 
squadron  home,  either  with  a  call  for  reinforcements  or  with 
dispatches  of  success  to  our  arms  there.  Even  the  Philadelphia 
which  we  expect  hourly,  may  have  been  detained  and  diverted 
to  the  service  of  the  more  important  operations  in  Va.  and 
our  mails  reach  us  still  by  some  lucky  accident.  Well  if  the 
good  cause  really  needs  our  mail  facilities,  satisfy  us  of  it  and 
we  would  go  without  them  as  cheerfully  as  any  living  bodies." 

In  the  course  of  the  Teche  campaign  mail  was  brought  by 
steamer  to  the  base  at  Brashear  City,  and  then  came  up  either 
with  the  supply  trains  or  by  men  detailed  to  go  down  after  it. 
a  I  sent  Sergt.  Fish  down  for  mails  and  some  other  matters  with 
orders  to  return  as  soon  as  he  can."  29 

"  I  hear  that  there  is  some  danger  of  the  capture  of  this  mail, 
by  guerillas  on  the  road,  but  I  hope  none  of  my  letters  will  get 

25  Santa  Rosa  island,   Florida,  February   17,   1802.      (Letter  begun   Febru 
ary  6th.) 
'™lUd.,  February  22,   1862.      (Letter  begun  February  6th.) 

27  Hid,,  February  26,  1862. 

28  Santa  Rosa  island,  Florida,  May  9,  1862.     (Letter  begun  May  5th.) 
290pelousas,  La.,  April  23,  1863. 


RECREATION    AND    MAIL  99 

into  print  in  the  C.  S.  A."  30  The  letters  written  during  this 
period  evidently  were  not  sent  by  United  States  mail,  as  they 
carry  no  stamp  or  cancellation  mark,  and  usually  bear  the  inscrip 
tion,  "By  the  kindness  of  -  — ."  "  Sergt.  Draper  goes  down 
in  the  morning.  ...  I  send  my  letter  by  him.'7  31 

When  the  Seventy-fifth  was  transferred  to  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  in  1864,  however,  opportunities  for  getting  letters  and 
papers  containing  news  of  operations  in  other  parts  of  the  coun 
try,  were  greatly  increased.  In  the  camp  at  (Dennallytown, 
D.  0.,  "  We  get  a  mail  every  day  now,  and  have  the  Washing 
ton  papers  early  in  the  morning,  so  that  we  keep  the  run  of  the 
news.'7  As  the  army  advanced  down  the  Shenandoah  valley, 
the  letters  were  delayed  a  little,  but  the  newspapers  arrived 
early.  "  We  get  the  Baltimore  &  Phil  a  papers  here  by  3  P.  M. 
and  hear  the  news  earlier  than  you  do  in  Williamson  or  would 
in  Owego  [Xew  York].  Our  mails,  as  yet,  are  irregular,  but  we 
hope  soon  to  get  them  into  order."  "  The  mail  is  said  to  be 
going  suddenly  and  I  must  close.  We  have  no  forewarnings  of 
arrival  or  departures  of  mail,  but  must  scramble  as  we  can." 

Facilities  for  handling  the  mail  for  the  soldiers,  then,  were 
poor,  and  the  delivery  to  the  various  points  was  irregular,  but 
the  arrival  of  the  long-expected  letters  formed  a  pleasant  break 
in  the  dailv  life  of  the  soldier. 


31/fctrf.,  April  25.   1863. 
!2  Termallytown,  D.  C.,  August  4,   1864. 
33Hallto\vn,  Va.,  August  23,   1864. 

3*.Near    Berryville,    Va.,    September    10,     1804.       (Letter    begun    Septem 
ber   9th.) 


CHAPTER  VIII 

THE  "  CONTRABAND  "  QUESTION 

\Yhat  to  do  with  the  negroes  who  escaped  from  their  owners 
and  fled  to  the  Union  lines  was  a  perplexing  question  to  be  set 
tled  up  to  the  time  when  President  Lincoln  issued  his  Emanci 
pation  Proclamation,  January  1,  1863,  freeing  the  slaves  in  the 
rebellious  states,  by  virtue  of  his  authority  as  a  military  com 
mander.  Feeling  had  been  growing  more  bitter  in  the  North 
over  the  slavery  question  during  the  years  following  1850,  and 
the  war  was  heralded  as  a  means  of  doing  away  with  that  hated 
institution.  "  I  received  one  [letter]  .  .  .  from  Prof.  Brockett 
who  writes  me  rather  prosily,  and  will  not  be1  content  with  this 
war  unless  it  instantly  abolishes  slavery.  ...  I  am  sure  this 
slavery  question  will  have  a  solution  in  God's  own  good  time, 
and  that  this  war  will  make  a  great  change  towards  emancipa 
tion,  but  it  will  not,  of  itself,  and  ought  not  to,  as  I  think,  abol 
ish  slavery. 

"  In  my  opinion  the  immediate  physical  comfort  of  the  slave, 
on  the  whole,  would  not  be  promoted  by  emancipation,  and  his 
intellectual  and  moral  condition  could  hardly  stand  the  test  of 
so  sudden  and  great  a  change.  I  think  the  change  will  be  great, 
but  so  gradual  as  not  to  create  any  great  convulsions."  l  From 
the  plantation  of  a  Colonel  Jones  near  Hampton,  Va.,  a  num 
ber  of  slaves  came  to  the  camp  of  the  Union  army,  having 
escaped  from  their  master  when  he  moved  his  possessions 
farther  south  upon  the  approach  of  the  troops.  They  "  are  about 
the  camps  as  servants  and  when  the  army  goes,  they  will  go 
by  some  means."  2 

Fort  Pickens  on  Santa  Rosa  island,  however,  was  the  point 
to  which  the  negroes  fled  after  the  outbreak  of  the  war,  from  all 
surrounding  districts,  as  it  was  for  some  time  the  only  point  in 
the  extreme  South  which  was  held  by  federal  troops,  and  where 
they  could  be  safe.  "  There  is  a  i  contraband '  here  who  came 
over  from  the  rebels  a  month  or  so  since,  who  makes  a  good  deal 
of  fun  for  us,  one  '  Bony '  by  name.  He  was  in  our  camp  last 
night  and  gave  in  his  dramatic  and  somewhat  plaintive  style, 
an  account  of  his  life  and  adventures.  He  gave  a  most  graphic 

1  Camp  Hamilton,   Virginia,  June   30,    1861.      (Letter  begun   June  28th.) 

2  7&id.,  July  20,  1861. 


THE  "CONTRABAND"  QUESTION  • /;  \-  101 

account  of  his  hard  work  for  his  master  and  how  he  got  away. 
He  says  he  worked  night  and  day  '  till  his  bar'  foot  was  all  bar'/ 
and  he  went  to  his  Master  and  said,  *  Massa,  my  foot  is  bar' : 
give  me  pair  o'  shoes.'  His  master  replied,  ( I  haint  got  no 
shoes  Bony.  I  haint  got  no  money.  Massa  Linkums  got  all  de 
money.  He  smashed  all  de  banks  V  we  got  no  money.  You 
must  take  slip  cow-hide  and  put  strings  in  it  and  tie  it  011  your 
feet.'  He  says  his  master  told  him,  '  Massa  Linkum  wanted  to 
sell  all  de  darkies  away  in  a  foreign  country'." 

"  The  negro  question  in  this  Department  continues  to  be 
solved  as  when  I  wrote  before  without  fuss  or  nonsense.  Xegroes 
who  come  over  to  us  from  the  rebels,  as  they  look  so  much  like 
men  and  women,  are  supposed  to  be  in  truth  such.  The  women 
and  children  are  sent  to  Xew  York,  where  of  course  it  is  cruelly 
cold,  but  where  bomb  shells  do  not  make  it  too  hot.  The  men 
being  willing  to  work  are  enrolled  as  Uncle  Sam's  laborers,  paid 
$15  per  month  and  one  ration  per  day.  They  are  boatmen, 
teamsters,  and  ordinary  hands,  and  do  more  work  than  any 
other  men  in  the  island.  I  do  not  think  the  l  express  sanction  of 
the  government '  would  be  deemed  necessary  here  before  a  '  spell 
ing  book  '  would  be  k  presented  to  ail  intelligent  negro ',  as  Jenkins 
says  was  the  case  at  Port  Royal.  Common  sense  is  considered 
'  handy  to  have '  in  managing  this  '  couiitraband '  business,  and 
I  do  not  see  but  what  it  works  very  well." 

u  Many  of  the  poor  fellows  run  the  greatest  risk  and  endure 
the  greatest  hardships  in  escaping,  and  from  the  frequent  shots 
and  alarms  on  the  rebel  lines  nearest  us,  I  presume  some  are 
shot  in  the  attempt  and  some  are  frightened  back.  Bony,  who 
is  quite  a  character  and  a  great  favorite  with  us,  says  that  as 
he  paddled  by  the  sentry,  just  as  he  was  nearly  out  of  sight  he 
heard  'Who  «%oo>  dnr  J.'  An-1  thoii,  'I  aT-t  down  in  de  boat  on 
my  knees  and  I  say  noffin,  Den  I  hear  'em  call,  "  Sargent  de 
guard!  Sargent  de  guard!"  and  7  prayed  to  God  (solemnly) 
dat  if  I  get  shot  I  fall  in  de  bay  and  de  sharks  eat  me  up,  so 
dey  think  I  get  away  I '  "  4 

The  capture  of  Pensacola  by  the  Union  troops  May  10,  1862, 
made  it  much  easier  for  the  slaves  to  gain  their  freedom  by  tak 
ing  refuge  within  the  Federal  lines.  To  the  provost  marshal  fell 
1  °  fluty  of  deciding  what  should  be  done  with  these  refugee?. 

3  Santa  Rosa  island,  Florida,  December  29,  1861.  (Letter  begun  Decem 
ber  26th.) 

4W.  Babcock  to  Harry  Wells  (*>},  Santa  Rosa  island,  Florida,  March  13, 
1862. 


102  LETTERS    OF   GENERAL    BABCOCK 

"  Negroes  are  now  coming  in  from  the  country  above,  three 
on  Thursday,  one  on  Friday ,  and  two  today  [Saturday].  One 
of  them,  'Robert/  (He  says  they  call  him  i  Coon  '  at  home,  a 
real  slave  genius,  shrewd,  cunning,  clownish,  black,  and  probably 
dishonest,)  came  in  yesterday  and  told  me  his  story,  his  name, 
age.  master,  business,  route  here  etc.  He  belonged  to  one  James 
Abercrombie  40  miles  up  the  Escambia  river,  didn't  know  how 
old  he  was,  was  raised  in  '  Old  Hancock '  in  -Georgia,  had  no 
father,  brothers  nor  sisters,  used  to  have  a  mother  and  one 
brother  in  Old  Hancock,  but  hadn't  heard  from  them  in  eight 
years,  had  heard  of  e  de  Yankees1  ?  and  come  down  '  to  see  '.  I 
asked  him  a  good  many  questions  which  he  answered  with  con 
stant,  grimaces  which  kept  us  all  in  a  roar  of  laughter,  but 
finally  I  put  the  question,  '  Have  you  got  a  wife  ? '  The  poor 
fellow's  face  took  a  sad  look  in  an  instant  which  touched  us  all. 
His  countenance  fell  as  he  said  'Yes,  Massa,'  i  Where  is  she? ' 
'  She  started  with  me,  sa.'  t  Where  is  she  now  ? '  i  .De  dogs 
ketched  her,  massa.'  By  many  questions  extorting  from  the 
unwilling  boy,  the  brief,  pathetic  answers,  I  learned  that  they 
started  together.  He  wanted  to  come  down  first  and  '  see  ',  but 
she,  the  faithful,  loving  wife,  insisted  on  sharing  his  fate,  and 
just  before  the  horn  blew  for  them  all  to  be  locked  up  for  sleep, 
they  set  out  with  bundles  in  hand,  and  ran.  They  were  soon 
missed,  the  dogs  were  set  on  their  track,  and  soon  overtook  them. 
He  stopped  first,  the  dogs  passed  him,  and  seized  her.  He  fol 
lowed  his  brute  instincts  and  ran  the  other  way.  How  she  fared 
and  where  she  is,  he  knows  not.  He  told  this  tale  with  such 
reticence,  such  a  shrinking  from  details  and  such  a  quiet  horror 
at  it  all,  that  I  recognized  my  own  kinship  to  his  black  face  and 
distorted  features.  Terrible  inhumanities  were  practiced  on  this 
place,  and  most  monstrous  indecencies  which  I  will  not  disgust 
you  by  describing.  We  send  these  fugitives  all  to  Pickens,  where 
they  are  enrolled  in  the  Qr.  M.  Dep't.  fed  and  paid  as  well  as 
worked.  They  work  well  and  are  proud  of  Uncle  Sam's  livery. 
Those  who  escaped  to  Pickens  months  ago  now  get  leave  to  come 
here  in  good  clothes  with  money  in  their  pockets  (the  very  gold 
and  not  confederate  shinplasters)  and  form  a  sort  of  colored 
aristocracy,  buying  corn  beer,  strolling  freely  about  and  doing 
much  flirtation  with  the  colored  girls."  B 

,  Fla.,  Saturday,  May  31,  1S62.      (Letter  begun  May  25th.) 


THE  "CONTRABAND"  QUESTION  103 

"A  few  slaves  still  remain  here  in  Pensacola,  who  ought  to 
l>c  free.  I  cannot  free  them.  If  they  run  away  to  Fort  Pickens 
we  do  not  leturn  them.  If  they  leave  their  masters  here,  we  do 
not  interfere  and  the  city  authorities  may  arrest  and  return 
them.  One  came  to  me  whom  the  agent  of  his  master  wanted 
to  hire  out  to  one  Laurence.  lie  was  not  disposed  .to  work  for 
nothing  any  more.  But  I  told  him  I  couldn't  help  him,  and  if 
he  didn't  stop  bothering  me  I  would  send  him  to  Fort  Pickens. 
'/  icisli  you  would  Massa! '  said  he  with  so  much  unction  that 
I  was  quite  disconcerted  by  the  effect  of  my  threat.  I  turned 
on  my  heel  to  go  to  breakfast  but  Carpenter  lingered  a  minute, 
and  I  saw  a  significant  smile  on  the  boy's  face  as  Carpenter  said 
in  a  low  tone,  '  Don't  you  know  the  way  to  Fort  Pickens? ' 
We  went  to  our  meal  and  I  have  not  seen  the  boy  since,  nor 
heard  of  him.  My  official  duties  bind  me  not  to  advise  any 
slave  to  run  away,  but  in  proper  cases  I  find  my  conscience  pliant 
enough  to  inform  other  officers  what  slaves  might  as  well  go  to 
Fort  Pickens  and  be  free!"  The  negroes  believed  that  the 
ad  veil  t  of  the  federal  troops  spelled  freedom  for  them  in  the 
eity  proper,  and  some  of  them  refused  to  work  any  longer  as 
slaves.  Shelter  was  often  given  to  fugitives  from  the  city  itself, 
:nid  although  legally  there  was  nothing  to  prevent  the  city 
authorities  or  the  owners  from  going  into  the  army  camp  and 
trying  to  persuade  the  slaves  to  return,  practically  they  were  safe, 
since  the  soldiers  would  not  have  permitted  any  use  of  force  to 
recover  the  runaway  negroes.7 

"'  Four  black  men,  slaves  of  Capt.  Harrison  upon  the  Black- 
water  came  down  here  this  morning.  In  my  examination  I 
asked  the  leader  the  stereotyped  question  what  he  came  down 
for  \  '  We  came  down  h<ere  to  hunt  a  friend  sa.  'Pears  like  our 
friends  are  scarce  up  dare!'  Sometime  ago  Mr.  Hulburt  was 
examining  one  and  asked  him  the  same  question.  What  he  came 
dewn  here  for?  'Cause  I  likes  your  laws  down  here  better  'n 
I  do  de  laws  in  Alabama/  '  Why  ?  What's  the  difference  between 
our  laws  and  the  laws  of  Alabama?'  said  Mr  Hulburt,  '  Oh, 
dey  gives  us  more  to  eat  down  here !  '  replied  the  discriminative 
darkey.  This  expression  'To  hunt  a  friend'  is  not  uncommon 
with  them  given  as  a  reason  for  coming  down  here,  and  it  is 

''Pensacola,  Fla.,  June  13,  1862.      (Letter  begun  June  9th.) 
*  Ibid.,  May  20,   1862. 


104  LETTERS    OF    GENERAL    BABCOCK 

always  used  with  a  sort  of  pathos  that  makes  it  a  pleading  appeal 
to  a  friend. 

"  I  told  the  four  who  came  in  this  morning  that  we  were 
i  iii  sing  a  battalion  of  black  men  to  tight  for  us  and  asked  them 
to  join.  The  leader  said  he  '  could  say  nothing  agin  that '  and 
the  others  asquiesced,  but  finally  one  of  them  thought  he 
shouldn't  want  to  fight  the  people  of  Florida." 

"  My  theory,  for  a  long  time  has  been  that  we  should  treat 
the  negro  who  comes  to  us  as  we  would  any  other  assistance  — 
take  it  and  apply  it  to  the  case  in  hand  according  to  the  rules 
of  common  sense.  Wlherever  there  is  an  army,  there  is  a.  great 
deal  of  fatigue  work  to  do,  cutting  roads,  building  bridges,  driv 
ing  teams,  throwing  up  earth  works,  boating,  etc.,  etc.  For  all 
this  work,  the  black  refugees  who  come  within  our  line  need 
no  education  or  drill.  Organize  them  into  companies,  regiments, 
and  brigades,  enroll  them,  pay  them  fair  wages,  and  make  them 
work.  This  relieves  the  soldier  from  all  but  strictly  military 
duties,  and  his  whole  time  and  strength  are  available  for  war. 
This  arrangement  shocks  no  prejudices,  wrongs  no  man,  makes 
an  economical  division  of  labor,  and  employs  every  resource." 

In  order  to  recapture  as  many  of  the  fugitives  as  possible, 
the  planters  below  New  Orleans  kept  a  patrol  on  duty,  and 
clashes  occurred  between  the  Union  outposts  and  this  guard  when 
negroes  were  pursued  to  the  city.  In  one  instance  the  leader 
of  this  force  had  the  effrontery  to  come  into  the  city  and  demand 
that  the  fugitives  be  given  to  him,  but  he  was  immediately  seized 
by  order  of  General  Butler,  and  punished. 1(> 

Such  was  the  method  of  dealing  with  the  fugitive  slave  or 
contraband  question  during  1861  and  1802.  Some  of  the  men 
were  used  in  actual  military  operations  (as  shown  in  a  preced 
ing  section)  through  the  formation  of  negro  regiments,  but  the 
usual  employment  for  them  was  the  manual  labor  of  the  camp, 
for  which  they  were  best  suited. 

'Pensacola,  Florida,  July  29,   1802.      (Letter  begun  July  23.) 
*JMfl..  July  21,   1862.      (Letter  begun   July   12.) 
10X<>\v  Orleans,  La.,  Feptember  15,   1S62. 


CHAPTER  IX 

FEELING  CONCERNING  THE  WAR 

It  would  not  be  fitting  to  conclude  this  study  of  camp  life 
in  the  Union  armies  during  the  Civil  War,  without  devoting 
some  attention  to  the  expression  of  the  feeling  of  the  soldiers 
themselves  toward  the  struggle  in  which  they  were  engaged. 
Historians  apparently  believe  that  the  war  between  the  North 
and  the  South  was  inevitable,  and  that  it  might  have  broken  out 
almost  any  time  after  1850.  The  interests  of  the  two  sections 
were  far  apart,  and  each  was  hostile  to  any  act  which  would 
strengthen  the  other's  position.  The  firing  on  Fort.  Sumter,  April 
12,  1861,  marked  the  culmination  of  this  feeling,  and  the  par- 
tizans  of  each  side  rushed  into  arms  in  a  blaze  of  patriotism. 
"  Every  republican  thanked  God  that  the  beginning  of  the  end 
had  come,  and  democrats  looked  glum."  The  ministers  in  the 
pulpits  preached  sermons  in  favor  of  the  war  and  volunteers 
came  fast.  "  The  whole  town  is  very  much  excited, —  all  of  the 
ministers  have  come  out  strongly  —  Elder  Brigham  said  that 
if  there  were  not  enough  without. —  he  would  volunteer,  and 
head  his  flock,  deacons  and  all.  The  rest  of  the  ministers  said 
the  same." 

Lieutenant  Babcock  himself  had  some  appreciation  of  the 
seriousness  of  the  war  thus  begun,3  but  did  not  believe  that  it 
would  last  very  long.4  The  troops  at  Camp  Hamilton  were 
anxious  to  get  into  battle,  for  fear  that  they  would  not  get  an 
opportunity  to  fight.  "  If  a  few  more  successes  like  that  of  Gen. 
McClelland  [sic]  are  obtained,  the  back  of  this  rebellion  is  broken 
and  we  shall  be  engaged  in  our  usual  peaceful  avocations  by  the 
1st  of  April  next  as  if  there  had  been  no  war.  I  trust  General 
Butler's  ambition  will  not  allow  him  t<>  remain  quiet  even  if  Ave 
have  to  move  short-handed.  The  truth  is,  we  have  not  force 
enough  here  for  any  steady  advance  unless  the  enemy  run  at 
the  sight  of  us  which  is  not  probable  since  the  Great  Bethel 
affair."  5  The  months  dragged  on,  however,  and  the  war  seemed 
to  be  no  nearer  its  end.  Each  new  victorv  of  a  Northern  army 


1  Diary,  April    13.   1861. 

2  Willis  G.  Baboock  to  Willoughby  Babcock,  Homer,  X.  Y.,  April  23,  1861. 

3  Albany  Barracks,   May   8,   1881. 

4  Camp  "Hamilton,  Virginia,  June  17,  1861.      (Letter  begun  June  16th.) 
*  IIM..  July  18,  1861. 

[105] 


106  LETTERS    OF    GENERAL    BABCOCK 

aroused  fresh  hopes  that  the  struggle  would  end  very  shortly, 
only  to  be  crushed  by  a  Union  defeat.  "  I  really  expect  to  see 
you  ere  the  year  is  over,  and  cannot  bring  myself  to  anticipate 
a  longer  absence,  though  many  of  our  officers  think  we  shall  not 
be  homo  within  our  •'  three  yePrs  V 

"  We  get  a  Pensacola  paper  by  our  deserters 7  which  gives  an 
account  of  a  decisive  victory  by  our  troops  in  Tennessee.  If 
true,  as  we  hope,  it  is  very  important  and  two  or  three  such 
victories  would  set  our  cause  far  ahead,  and  bring  us  some 
months  nearer  our  wives  and  friends.  We  cannot  hope  to  leave 
the  South  until  the  war  is  fairly  over,  and  shall,  I  fear  be  among 
the  last  troops  discharged.  It  will  be  a  great  work  even  to  trans 
port  home  600,000  soldiers  and  many  men  must  wait."  8  "  The 
news  today  is  glorious.  It  looks  more  like  success.  If  vigor 
ously  carried  on  the  war  will  approach  the  beginning  of  the  end 
on  the  1st  of  April.  I  shall  be  very  glad  if  the  condition  of 
things  shall  be  such  as  to  allow  me  to  resign  by  the  1st  of 
August."  9 

Great  confidence  was  felt  in  the  ability  of  General  M:cClellan 
to  drive  home  his  attack  against  Richmond  and  crush  the  Army 
of  Virginia.  If  the  southern  capital  was  surrendered  to  the 
Union  armies,  the  war  would  be  practically  over.10  His  long 
delay  after  all  things  were  apparently  in  readiness  caused  the 
feeling  to  grow  that  he  was  not  a  man  who  could  carry  the  opera 
tions  to  a  successful  conclusion.11  Finally  news  came  of  the 
defeat  before  Richmond,  after  several  days  of  conflicting  rumors. 
"  We  have  also  a  X.  Y.  Times  of  the  3rd  of  July,  and  enough  seems 
to  have  become  certain  to  assure  us  that  the  energy  and  military 
science  of  the  South  have  proved  superior  to  ours  now  as  gen 
erally  heretofore.  The  damnable  taint  of  money  and  political 
influence  is  upon  the  army,  and  there  is  no  such  earnest  working 
among  the  commanding  officers  as  the  rebels  have  done.  One 
of  the  commonest  matters  of  strategy  is  to  have  superior  num 
bers  at  the  point  where  serious  wOTk  is  possible,  but  McClellan 
has  dallied  eleven  months  away  in  Virginia,  has  had  every  wish 

6  This  letter  was  written  in  February  1862  from  Santa  Rosa  island. 

7  These   deserters   came  from  the   Confederate  army   on   the  other   side   of 
the  channel. 

8  Santa   Rosa    island,    Florida,   February    8,    1862.      (Letter   begun    Febru 
ary  6th.) 

'9  Ibid.,  February  28,  1862.     (Letter  begun  February  26th.) 

10/6id.,  March  13,  1862. 

11  Ibid.,  March  31,  1862.     (Letter  begun  March  24th.) 


FEELING    CONCERNING    THE    WAR  107 

and  request  gratified,  has  had  wonderful  means  at  his  disposal, 
and  yet  has  allowed  the  enemy  to  put  two  men  to  his  one  on  the 
point  of  attack  and  thus  beat  him  when  defeat  was  as  ruinous 
as  it  was  unnecessary.  We  knew  here,  and  he  had  the  means  of 
knowing,  that  the  Army  of  the  "South  dispersed  at  Corinth,  was 
being  sent  to  ^Richmond.  He  should  have  known,  as  a  military 
man,  the  meaning  of  Jackson's  diversion.  He  should  have 
known  the  swamps  of  Chickahominy,  and  their  strategic  uses  and 
difficulties.  He  should  have  known,  very  nearly,  the  forces 
around  Richmond.  It  seems  he  knew  nothing.  All  attempts  to 
shift  the  blame  from  him  to  the  President  or  to  Secretary 
Stanton,  are  unjust,  for  there  is  everywhere  the  best  evidence 
rhut  he  has  had  his  own  way.  Chickahominy  was  a  serious  check 
which  he  need  not  have  suffered  —  it  was  no  way  necessary. 
That  taught  him, —  or  should  have  done  so, —  the  numbers  and 
intentions  of  the  rebel  army.  So  far  as  appears,  it  taught  him 
nothing. 

"  Ignorant  of  his  enemy,  careless  of  his  surroundings,  he  has 
gone  into  action  and  come  out  of  it  40  miles  from  Richmond. 
His  officers  and  soldiers  were  heroes  or  they  would  have  been 
utterly  destroyed.  Of  course,  I  think  he  has  been  appreciated 
before,  but  the  War  Dept.  has  not  been  able  to  displace  him." 

"  If  McClellan  has  failed  us  in  whom  will  the  country  trust  ? 
.  .  .  We  have  raised  armies ;  we  have  shed  our  best  blood,  poured 
out  millions  of  treasure,  and  moved  heaven  and  earth  at  the 
heck  of  this  general,  and  he  has  failed  us.  Who  promises  more  ? 
Is  it  Halleck?  He  was  outwitted  at  Corinth.  Is  it  Hunter? 
He  has  done  nothing.  Fremont  has  at  last  subsided.  Sumner 
might  do,  but  are  we  sure  of  it  ? 

"  ~No.  If  the  truth  is  what  we  fear  it  is,  I  am  for  recognizing 
the  independence  of  the  South.  You  will  be  surprised  at  this, 
but  it  is  my  long  harbored  thought,  once  or  twice  before 
expressed.  If  they  have  routed  our  army  there,  they  deserve 
their  independence,  and  have  fairly  won  it.  What  is  more, 
the  common  sense  of  the  world  will  give  it  to  them.  It  is  a  ter 
rible  thought,  yet  it  is  my  true  one.  The  prospect  were  sad 
indeed,  but  not  without  its  great  promise  of  good.  For  if  the 
Union  shall  be  restored,  Slavery  as  the  price  of  pacification, 
will  be  sustained  by  the  strong  arm  of  government,  and  may 

12  Pensacola,   Fla..  July  15,   1862.      (Letter  begun  July   12th.) 


108  LETTERS    OF    GENERAL    BABCOCK 

yet  linger  a  half  century.  But  if  there  is  a  Southern  republic, 
slavery  is  now  nearly  dead.  It  will  die  soon!  '*' 

Colonel  Babcock  bitterly  arraigns  the  politicians  and  army 
contractors  for  preventing  the  vigorous  prosecution  of  the  war 
by  delaying  supplies,  keeping  incompetent  men  in  office,  and 
sending  out  false  reports  of  the  condition  of  the  army.14 

After  the  failure  of  the  generals  to  whom  the  country  had 
looked  for  aid  a  new  man  had  to  be  obtained  who  could  cope 
with  the  situation,  and  that  general  showed  himself  in  the  cap 
ture  of  Vicksburg,  the  great  fortress  on  the  Mississippi  river, 
July  4,  1863, —  U.  S.  Grant.  "  Everything  looks  glorious  now- 
a-days.  Of  course  our  greatest  concern  is  for  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  which  has  been  the  great  source  from  which  the  rebels 
have  drawn  their  supplies.  It  succeeding  now,  the  war  is 
nearly  over.  To  Grant,  however,  should  be  the  credit  of  inaugu 
rating  these  magnificent  successes.  Banks'  career  has  been 
creditable  to  his  troops,  and  accomplished  with  small  means, 
but  his  success  has  been  accidental.  Lee's  rush  into  Maryland 
and  Penn  a.  has  been  long  designed,  but  it  was  the  last  desperate 
throw  of  a  gambler  and  has  failed  signally."  15 

Camp  Hamilton,  Virginia,  the  position  taken  up  by  the  Third 
regiment  when  it  first  took  the  field,  was  in  the  enemy's  country, 
and  the  so-called  Union  sentiment  in  the  district  was  largely 
assumed.  July  14,  1861,  "  I  am  well  satisfied  that  there  is  no 
real  Union  feeling  here  strong  enough  to  overbalance  the  natural 
Southern  feeling.  The  undercurrent  of  sympathy  here  is  unmis 
takably  Southern  and  we  owe  our  friends  to  our  strength.  A 
Union  man  here  is  one  merely  who  prefers  the  old  order  of 
things,  who  regrets  the  destruction  of  industry  and  its  products 
by  war,  and  who  is  willing  the  laws  should  be  enforced  if  it 
can  be  done  without  bloodshed.  If  there  are  any  more  ardent 
Union  men  than  this,  it  is  because  they  are  abolitionists  at  heart 
or  are  Northerners  who  are  yet  unconverted  to  slaveholding  codes 
of  right.  One  man  near  here  took  the  oath  of  allegiance  and 
got  a  pass  from  Gen.  Butler  which  takes  him  all  through  our 
lines  and  into  the  Fort.  "Wlith  this  he  visited  all  around  daily, 
went  home  at  night  like  a  faithful  spouse,  and  told  his  wife  all 
the  particulars.  She  saddled  the  horse  while  he  went  to  bed 

13Pensacola,  Fla..  July  15,  1862.      (Letter  begun  July  12th.) 

14Xc\v  Orleans,  La.,  September  16.  1S62.      (Letter  begun  September  loth.) 

ir'W.   Babcock   to   "Friend   Ruckbee,"   Donaldsonville,   La.,   Julv    10,    1863. 


FEELING    CONCERNING    THE    WAR  109 

and  rode  over  to  the  enemy's  lines  with  all  this  useful  informa 
tion.  I  presume  others  have  practiced  the  same  thing,  though 
they  have  not  yet  found  themselves  in  quod  as  this  good  lady 
has."  16 

In  Pensaeola  sentiment  was  divided  with  regard  to  secession. 
u  I  have  become  acquainted  with  Judge  Wright  a  good  deal,  and 
I  find  him  a  most  scrupulous,  high-minded  gentleman.  He  is 
a  lawyer  and  judge,  about  sixty  years  of  age,  intelligent  and 
intellectual,  used  to  the  world,  and  the  soul  of  honor.  He  has 
always  opposed  and  denounced  secession,  yet  regards  the  seces 
sion  of  his  state  as  having  carried  Mm  out  of  the  United  States. 
He  would  not  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  Confederate 
States  and  says  he  would  have  suffered  banishment  before  he 
would  have  done  it.  He  will  not  renew  his  allegiance  to  the 
United  States  —  though  he  has  not  been  asked  to  do  so.  He  has 
one  son  now  at  home  and  three  in  the  rebel  army.  .  .  . 

"  The  families  of  Judge  Wright  and  his  son,  of  Merritt  & 
Cozzens,  the  other  two  men  arrested  at  Oakfield  are  the  onlj 
ones  really  representing  the  respectability  of  this  city  that  1 
have  come  in  contact  with.  Some  of  them  are  for  Secession, 
some  for  Union.  The  secessionists  hate  us,  and  will  continue 
to  hate  us.  The  Union  people,  few  and  rare,  will  not  affiliate 
with  us  for  two  reasons:  one  is,  they  fear  to  do  so,  lest  we  retire 
from  here  and  leave  them  to  the  tender  mercies  of  the  rebel 
friends  hereabouts;  the  other  is,  they  have  sons  and  brothers  in 
the  rebel  service  who  will  call  them  renegades,  apostates,  traitors. 
Judge  Wright  said  to  me  that  it  would  hardly  be  honest  to  cul 
tivate  intimacy  with  one  whose  duty  it  would  be  tomorrow  to 
slay  his  sons.  Yet  he  says,  and  all  these  men  say,  that  our  con 
ciliatory  course  here  is  fast  gaining  us  friends  and  that  we  are 
stronger  every  day."  17 

The  good  conduct  of  the  Union  soldiers  helped  to  do  away  with 
the  bitter  hostility  of  the  leading  people  in  the  city,  and  social 
intercourse  grew  between  the  officers  and  these  families. 
"  Nobody  now  stays  at  home  out  of  spite  toward  us,  and  the  list 
of  ladies  who  attend  the  ministrations  of  Father  Nash  of  the 
6th  Regt.  comprises  many  pretty  ones." n  The  Confederate 
papers,  however,  were  "  full  to  the  very  brim  with  the  most 

16  Camp  Hamilton,  Virginia,   July    16,    1861.      (Letter  begun   July   14th.) 

17  Pensaeola,  Fla.,  May  31,   1862.      (Letter  begun  May  25th.) 

18  Pensaeola,  Fla.,  August  3,   1862. 


110  LETTERS   OF    GENERAL    BABCOCK 

bloody  and  inflammatory  appeals  to  passion  and  vengeance." 
"  It  is  a  desperate  struggle,  desperately  conducted  by  the  South. 
Many  of  them,  especially  the  women  and  old  men,  are  for  fight 
ing  it  out  to  the  bitter  end  of  destroying  everything  and  dying 
on  the  ruins.7-' 19 

It  is  difficult  50  years  afterwards,  to  appreciate  fully  the  con 
ditions  under  which  the  soldiers  lived  during  this  bitter  struggle 
between  the  North  and  the  South,  camping  on  low  ground,  out 
in  all  kinds  of  weather,  without  protection  from  fever  and  sick 
ness  and  ever  in  danger  of  attack  by  regular  forces  or  guerrillas. 
Gallantly  the  men  did  their  duty  through  the  long  years  of 
fighting;  and  perhaps  this  study  of  conditions  as  shown  by  the 
letters  of  an  officer  who  was  a  close  observer  for  three  years,  may 
help  to  give  an  understanding  of  the  intimate  details  of  the  life 
they  led. 

19 Ibid.,  July  24,  1862.      (Letter  begun  July  23d.) 


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